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251537
NOT TO BE TAKEN FROM THE LIBRARY
FORM 1427 — 5M — 2~30
i
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
California State Library Califa/LSTA Grant
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofcontraOOmunr
HISTORY OF
CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
ILLUSTRATED
COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1926
251527
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Numbers refer to pages.)
Table of Contents 9
Preface 15
Index of Names 1096
HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CHAPTER I
Introductory: The Early History of California 33
Influence of tradition and mythology on discovery of America. Spanish
and English Explorations and Discoveries (p. 33) : Explorations and
discoveries of Cortez and Alarcon. Explorations in Alta or Nueva California
(p. 36) : Discoveries by Cabrillo and Ferrolo on the Pacific Coast — Drake's
voyages of discovery and plunder — New Albion — Drake circumnavigates the
globe — Voyages and discoveries of Viscaino. Colonization of Alta California
(p. 41) : Missionary work of the Jesuits — Junipero Serra and the Franciscans
succeed the Jesuits — Joint colonization by Church and State under Serra and
Galvez — Expeditions by land and sea under Portola and Galvez — The nine-
teen missions, with dates of their founding. Aborigines of California (p. 44) :
Viscaino's description of the Indians of California — Their characteristics and
mode of life — Superiority of Northern tribes over those of the South. The
Passing of Spain's Domination (p. 46) : Visits of La Perouse and Van-
couver to the Pacific Coast — Spanish monopoly of the fur trade — The Ameri-
can smugglers — Russian activities on the Pacific Coast — Fort Ross — The
Mexican struggle for independence — El Ano de los Temblores — El Ano de
los Insurgentes. The Free and Sovereign State of Alta California
(p. 49) : The arbitrary administrations of Chico and Gutierrez — Alvarado
and Castro raise the standard of revolt — The Free State of Alta California
proclaimed — Recognition of Alvarado in the South, and his appointment as
governor under Mexican authority. Decline and Fall of Mexican Domi-
nation (p. 51): The government passes into the hands of native-born
Californians — Growth of foreign population and influence — Arrest and im-
prisonment of foreigners — Capture of Monterey by Commodore Jones —
Micheltorena's administration in Los Angeles and Monterey — Pico succeeds
to the government — His troubles with Castro and the "foreign adventurers" —
Marsh's letter to Cass. The American Conquest of California (p. 61) :
Fremont's expedition to California — The Bear Flag Republic — Making of
the flag. Under the Stars and Stripes: Commodore Sloat raises the American
flag at Monterey — Activities of Stockton and Fremont — Capitulation of Gen-
eral Pico at Cahuenga. Mexican laws and American officials — Peace estab-
lished. Gold! Gold! Gold! (p. 67) : Viscaino's reference to gold — First
discovered in 1841 at the San Francisco Ranch, or in 1842 at San Francis-
10 TABLE OF CONTENTS
quito — Marshall's discovery of gold at Coloma in 1848 — The controversy
over dates — Account of the great gold rush. Making a State (p. 77) :
Organization of a provisional government and adoption of a State constitu-
tion — Election of State officials — The first legislature — Admission of Califor-
nia to Statehood.
CHAPTER II
Contra Costa County: General Features 81
Advantages of Location (p. 81) : Area, boundaries, and population —
The water front — Fresh water anchorage — Most valuable river traffic — Fine
system of highways — Unsurpassed climate. Eastern Contra Costa County
(p. 83) : Topography and products — The rich valleys — The sandy lands —
The tule lands — Dairying. Mount Diablo (p. 85) : San Francisco Exam-
iner's account of its discovery and naming by the Spaniards in 1772 — Legends
and description of the mountain — The Mount Diablo Estate. Valleys in
Contra Costa County (p. 88) : Tassajara Valley — San Ramon Valley —
Alhambra Valley — Ygnacio Valley.
CHAPTER III
Early County History 91
Division of State into counties, 1850 — Original boundary of the county —
Present boundary — Acts of the court of sessions, 1850: assessments for county
expenses and public buildings ; licenses levied — Board of supervisors created,
1852 — Provision for $27,000 court house, 1854 — Division of county into dis-
tricts, 1855 — Assessed valuations in 1850 and 1875 — Assessor's report, 1853 —
Spanish families and early land claims — The Indians of Contra* Costa County
— Old adobes. Transportation : Early ferries and passenger boats — Building
and extension of railroad lines — Bridges and ferries — -Minerals and mining —
Important industrial concerns.
CHAPTER IV
County Officers 102
Officers of Contra Costa County, from its Organization to the
Present Time: Senators — Assemblymen — District judges — County judges
and superior judges — Associate justices of court of sessions — Justices of the
peace — District attorneys — County clerks, recorders, and (after 1855) audi-
tors — County clerks — County auditors — County recorders — County sheriffs —
County tax collectors and treasurers — Tax collectors — County treasurers —
County assessors — Public administrators — County coroners — County surveyors
— Superintendents of schools — County commissioner and county physicians —
County supervisors.
CHAPTER V
Martinez 110
Townsite laid out for Martinez heirs by Col. W. M. Smith, 1849 — Grant
of Pinole and San Pablo Ranchos to Ignacio Martinez and Francisco Castro,
1823 — William Welch secures Las Juntas Rancho, 1832 — Early settlers —
Survey of the first addition, 1850-1851 — Town incorporated and trustees
TABLE OF CONTENTS 11
elected — Incorporation voided by supreme court — Contra Costa Gazette estab-
lished, 1858 — -Other newspapers — Martinez reincorporated, 1876 — Boun-
daries — Fires and earthquakes — Civic improvement and industrial expansion.
CHAPTER VI
Richmond 114
First inhabitants : anthropological and geological revelations of the shell
mounds — Location and importance of the city — Crespi's expedition, 1772 —
Petition of Francisco Castro to Provincial Assembly for grant of three square
leagues in "Los Cuchigunes," or "San Pablo," 1823 — Decree of Assembly
granting land solicited — History of subsequent delays and petitions, including
petition for additional square league — Original territory and augmentation
finally granted by Figueroa to successors of Castro, 1835 — Subsequent history
of the property — Protracted litigation and final decree in partition, 189-1 —
The Tewksbury, Emeric, and Nicholl interests and subdivisions — The coming
of the Santa Fe — Other subdivisions of the "Town of Richmond" — Santa Fe
shops moved from Stockton to Richmond — Incorporation and annexation mat-
ters — The Standard Oil Company — Transportation and power facilities —
Schools of the city — Richmond Union High School — Roosevelt Junior High
School — Newspapers — Post offices — Tables.
CHAPTER VII
Pittsburg 140
Present population of the city — Survey of the townsite for "New York of
the Pacific" — General Sherman's account of the survey — Aspirations for loca-
tion of State capital there — Discovery of coal and change of town's name to
Black Diamond — Importance of fishing industry — The C. A. Hooper Com-
pany's influence on industrial growth of the city — History of the Los Medanos
Rancho — Change of the city's name to Pittsburg — Phenomenal growth of the
city — Fire department — City Hall — Veterans' Memorial Building — Public
schools — Public Library — Water system — Chamber of Commerce — Light and
power facilities — Transportation — Newspapers — Banks — Post office — Principal
industrial firms — Fraternal organizations.
CHAPTER VIII
Antioch . ..143
William W. Smith, founder of Smith's Landing — Early settlers and
growth of the town — Name Antioch adopted at community picnic, July 4,
1851 — Brief history of the schools — Account of the organization of the
churches — Lodges of the city — Discovery and mining of coal and copper —
Establishment of industries — The Antioch Ledger — Banks — Population and
incorporation — Fire department — Water supply — Light and power — Sewer
system — City Hall — Streets — Transportation by land and water — Products —
Memorial Building — Antioch Free Library — City officers.
CHAPTER IX
Concord 148
Townsite platted by Salvio Pacheco, Fernando Pacheco, and Francisco
Galindo, 1869 — Todos Santos, alias "Drunken Indian" — Early settlers —
12 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lodges of the city — Churches — Schools — Banks — The Concord Sun — Incor-
poration of Concord as a city of the sixth class, 1905 — Population — Streets and
sewers — Light, power, gas, and water supply — Fire department — Fires —
Modern buildings — Mount Diablo Union High School — Libraries — Chamber
of Commerce — Products — Shipping facilities — Diablo Air Mail Field Base.
CHAPTER X
Crockett 151
Location — Named in honor of Judge J. B. Crockett — Original townsite —
California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company — Community center club
house — Thomas Edwards, the founder of Crockett — The Edwards family
home — Notes from the diary of John Edwards. Later Growth of the Town :
The town in 1883 — The California Beet Sugar & Refining Company — The
California & Hawaiian Sugar Company — The Crockett Record and Crockett
Signal — Population of the city — First National Bank and Bank of Pinole —
Churches of the city — Growth of the schools — John Swett Union High School
— Other modern buildings — The fire department — Crockett and Valona Busi-
ness Men's Association — Citizens' Improvement Association — Lodges of
Crockett — Veterans' Memorial Hospital.
CHAPTER XI
El Cerrito 157
Founded by William F. Rust in 1888 — Post office established at Rust —
Incorporated as a city of the sixth class under the name El Cerrito in 1917 —
Establishment of schools and churches — Erection of modern school buildings —
Population in 1926 — Improvement of streets — City Hall — First board of
trustees — Present city officials — Advantages of El Cerrito as a residential city
— Clubs and associations — Assessed valuation of city property — Quarrying by
Bates & Borland and the Hutchinson Company — The El Cerrito Journal —
The fire department — Annexation election of 1926, and control of San Pablo
Avenue.
CHAPTER XII
Other Towns of the County 159
Bay Point (p. 159)— Danville (p. 160) ; Mount Diablo Country Club —
Alamo (p. 162) — Pacheco (p. 164) — Brentwood (p. 166) — Byron (p. 168)
—Clayton (p. 171)— Oakley (p. 172)— Rodeo (p. 173)— Tormey (p. 173)
— Cowell (p. 174)— Walnut Creek (p. 174)— Lafayette (p. 174)— San
Ramon (p. 175) — San Pablo (p. 176) — Morgan Territory (p. 177) — Avon
(p. 177)— Hercules (p. 178).
CHAPTER XIII
Library Development 178
Martinez Branch Library (p. 178) : Work of the E. Q. V. Society
and the Martinez Free Reading-Room and Library Association — Library
building — Yearly circulation of books. Antioch Branch Library (p. 179) :
The Library Club — Mr. Williams' reading room for boys — Work of the
Woman's Club and Library Association — Library building — Yearly circula-
TABLE OF CONTENTS 13
tion of books. Concord Branch Library (p. 180) : Organization and work
of the Library Association — Library building — Yearly circulation of books.
Crockett Branch Library (p. 181): Library of the Crolona Men's Club
— Cooperation of the California and Hawaiian Sugar Company — Library
building — Yearly circulation of books. Walnut Creek Branch Library
(p. 181): Work of the Woman's Club — Library building. Pittsburg
Branch Library (p. 182) : Mr. Crosby's gift of books, and the opening of
a library — Library building — Yearly circulation of books. Richmond
Library (p. 182) : Richmond Library Club formed, and library established —
Cooperation of Woman's Improvement Club — Library building — West Side
Branch of Richmond Public Library; yearly circulation — Stege Branch ^yearly
circulation — Grant Branch — Enlargement of main library building — Yearly
circulation of books. The County Library System (p. 183) : Contra
Costa County Free Library — Yearly circulation — History and growth — Co-
operation with local branches and with schools.
CHAPTER XIV
Lodges of the County 184
Masonic Lodges — Royal Arch Chapters — Eastern Star Chapters — Odd
Fellows Lodges — Odd Fellows' Encampments and Cantons — Odd Fellows'
Hall Association — Rebekah Lodges — Knights of Pythias and Pythian Sisters —
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks — Improved Order of Red Men — Native
Sons of the Golden West — Native Daughters of the Golden West — Patrons
of Husbandry — American Legion Posts.
CHAPTER XV
Banks and Banking 192
Primitive banking methods — Contra Costa Savings & Loan Bank of
Pacheco — Bank of Martinez — Bank of Antioch — Contra Costa County Bank
— Bank of Pinole — First National Bank of Contra Costa County — San Ramon
Valley Bank — Mechanics Bank of Richmond — First National Bank of Rich-
mond — Richmond Savings Bank — First National Bank of Concord — Bank of
Byron — First National Bank of Walnut Creek — Bank of Brentwood — First
National Bank of Antioch — National Bank of Martinez — Bank of Oakley —
Bank of Richmond — First National Bank of Crockett.
CHAPTER XVI
Irrigation 196
Public sentiment in favor of irrigation, as reflected by early editorials in
the local press, 1876, 1879 — East Contra Costa Irrigation Company {p. 197)
— Knightsen Irrigation District (p. 198) — Lone Tree Irrigation District
(p. 200) — Brentwood Irrigation District (p. 201) — The Bryron-Bethany
Irrigation District (p. 202) — Growth of irrigation, as reflected by the press:
news items, chronologically arranged, and giving additional data regarding the
history of irrigation in the county.
CHAPTER XVII
The Pioneers: Nativity, Necrology, Brief Mention 209
Brief summaries of the lives of many of the early pioneers of the county,
14 TABLE OF CONTENTS
together with data of birth, marriage, and death — often under data line as
given in the local press — and with the surnames arranged in alphabetical order,
rather than chronological, for greater convenience of reference.
CHAPTER XVIII
Gleanings from the Files of the Contra Costa Gazette, 1858-1926 245
A chronological presentation of excerpts from the complete set of bound
volumes in the office of the Gazette in Martinez, covering the more important
events, historical, political, and personal, that have occurred in Contra Costa
County since the early days; tracing the gradual development and expansion of
its varied interests; and recalling many interesting incidents in the lives of its
pioneers.
PREFACE
In the compilation of the History of Contra Costa County for this
work, the writer has pursued an uncharted course. The general State
history, which introduces the story, has been taken from early publica-
tions, the accuracy of which cannot be questioned. The story of Contra
Costa County has been gleaned from many sources, the earliest of which
was the Slocum history of 1882. This book is regarded as being fairly
correct, so far as it goes, to the time- of its publication. The files of the
newspapers have been a source of information, as have, also, interviews
with many of the oldest inhabitants. The citizens of the various cities,
towns and villages have kindly supplied material, when called upon, and
this has been woven into the story of their localities; also, this information
has been verified by scanning the files of the newspapers, to check up on
items and dates.
One feature that has never appeared in former county histories is the
chapter on the early settlers who have passed away. This will be of
absorbing interest, for it mentions many whose names, even, would not
otherwise have been mentioned, because no representatives of their families
are now in the county. The files of the Martinez Gazette, dating from
September, 1858, have yielded much of the data for this chapter, as also
the data for the chapter of gleanings from the local press. The value of
these files to the county and State can never be estimated in dollars and
cents, and they should be safeguarded for the future.
To all those who have kindly extended a helping hand, the writer
wishes to extend his hearty thanks. Especial mention is due the Martinez
Gazette, Martinez Standard, Crockett Signal, Antioch Ledger, Brent-
wood News, Byron Times, Richmond Independent and Richmond Record-
Herald. To Ed. W. Netherton the writer wishes to extend thanks for the
irrigation articles; to Mrs. Alice Whitbeck, for her story of the library
development; and to C. A. Odell, for his history of Richmond, the early
data for which required much research work. To each and every one who
has responded when called upon, acknowledgment is here given.
The publishers wish to thank the following photographers for their
cooperation in supplying photographs: Lancaster Studio, Martinez; Smith
Studio, Pittsburg; and Hartsook's Studios in Stockton, Oakland and San
Francisco.
The biographies of many will be missed from the section devoted to
the stories of the lives of the people, as will also their portraits; not be-
cause of the fault of the publishers of this book, but because it was impos-
sible to impress upon many the importance of recording for posterity
their life histories and family records. In other cases the life history has
been omitted out of deference to the wishes of some member of the family.
16 TABLE OF CONTENTS
The growth of Contra Costa County is so rapid, with its many and
varied opportunities on every hand, that it has been impossible to give a
fully detailed record of the achievements of the past few decades; it is to
be hoped that these will be more amply recorded in some work of a future
date, when what is now taking place shall have become settled history.
The publishers have asked no remuneration from any quarter, and
have made no charge for printing any material; their only source of
revenue has been from the sale of the history. To all those who have
supported the work, thanks are here given. We feel sure that in the com-
ing years this History of Contra Costa County will prove invaluable, and
will be a source of gratification to the families of those mentioned herein.
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY, Inc.
Los Angeles, Cal.,
December 16, 1926.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY: THE EARLY HISTORY OF
CALIFORNIA
For centuries before the discovery of America, there had been a vague
tradition of a land lying somewhere in the seemingly limitless expanse of
ocean stretching westward from the shores of Europe. When Columbus
proved the existence of a new world beyond the Atlantic, his discovery did
not altogether dispel the mysteries and superstitions that for ages had
enshrouded the fabled Atlantis, the lost continent of the Hesperides.
Romance and credulity had much to do with hastening the exploration of
the newly discovered western world. Its interior might hold wonderful
possibilities for wealth, fame and conquest to the adventurers who should
penetrate its dark unknown.
The fabled fountain of youth lured Ponce de Leon over many a league
in the wilds of Florida; and although he found no spring spouting forth
the elixir of life, he explored a rich and fertile country, in which the
Spaniards planted the first settlement ever made within the territory now
held by the United States.
When Cortez's lieutenant, Gonzalo de Sandoval, gave his superior
officer an account of a wonderful island ten days westward from the
Pacific Coast of Mexico, inhabited by women only, and exceedingly rich in
pearls and gold, although he no doubt derived his story from Montalvo's
romance, the "Sergas de Esplandian," a popular novel of that day, yet
Cortez seems to have given credence to his subordinate's tale, and kept in
view the conquest of the island.
SPANISH AND ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND
DISCOVERIES
To the energy and enterprise of Hernan Cortez is due the early
exploration of the northwest coast of North America. In 1522, Cortez
established a shipyard at Zacatula, the most northern port on the Pacific
coast of the country that he had just conquered. Here he intended to
build ships to explore the upper coast of the South Sea (as the Pacific
Ocean was then called) ; but his good fortune, that had hitherto given
success to his undertakings, seemed to have deserted him, and disaster fol-
lowed disaster. He finally, in 1527, succeeded in launching four ships.
34 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Three of these were taken possession of by the king's orders for service in
the East Indies. The fourth and the smallest made a short voyage up the
coast. The commander, Maldonado, returned with glowing reports of a
rich country he had discovered.
In 1528 Cortez was unjustly deprived of the government of the coun-
try he had conquered. His successor, Nuno de Guzman, president of the
royal audiencia, as the new form of government for New Spain (Mexico)
was called, had pursued him for years with the malignity of a demon.
Cortez returned to Spain to defend himself against the rancorous and
malignant charges of his enemies. He was received at court with a show
of high honors, which in reality were hollow professions of friendship and
insincere expressions of esteem. He was rewarded by the bestowal of an
empty title. He was empowered to conquer and colonize countries at his
own expense, for which he was to receive the twelfth part of the revenue.
Cortez returned to Mexico, and in 1532 he had two ships fitted out, which
sailed from Acapulco, in June of that year, up the coast of Jalisco. Por-
tions of the crews of each vessel mutinied. The mutineers were put aboard
of the vessel commanded by Mazuela; and the other vessels, commanded
by Hurtardo, continued the voyage as far as the Yaqui country. Here,
having landed in search of provisions, the natives massacred the com-
mander and all the crew. The crew of the other vessel shared the same
fate lower down the coast. The stranded vessel was afterwards plundered
and dismantled by Nuno de Guzman, who was about as much of a savage
as the predatory and murderous natives.
In 1533 Cortez, undismayed by his disasters, fitted out two more ships
for the exploration of the northern coast of Mexico. On board one of
these ships, commanded by Bercerra de Mendoza, the crew, headed by the
chief pilot, Jiminez, mutinied. Mendoza was killed and all who would not
join the mutineers were forced to go ashore on the coast of Jalisco. The
mutineers, to escape punishment by the authorities, under the command of
the pilot, Fortuno Jiminez, sailed westerly away from the coast of the
mainland. After several days' sailing out of sight of land, they discovered
what they supposed to be an island. They landed at a place now known as
La Paz, Lower California. Here Jiminez and twenty of his confederates
were killed by the Indians, or their fellow mutineers, it is uncertain which.
The survivors of the ill-fated expedition managed to navigate the vessel
back to Jalisco, where they reported the discovery of an island rich in gold
and pearls. This fabrication doubtlessly saved their necks. There is no
record of their punishment for mutiny. Cortez's other ship accomplished
even less than the one captured by the mutineers. Grixalvo, the com-
mander of this vessel, discovered a desolate island, forty leagues south of
Cape San Lucas, which he named Santo Tomas.
Cortez, having heard of Jiminez's discovery, and possibly believing it
to be Sandoval's isle of the Amazons, rich with gold and pearls, set about
building more ships for exploration and for the colonization of the island.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 35
He ordered the building of three ships at Tehauntepec. The royal audien-
cia having failed to give him any redress or protection against Nuno de
Guzman, he determined to punish him himself. Collecting a considerable
force of cavaliers and soldiers, he marched to Chiametla. There he found
his vessel, La Concepcion, lying on her beam ends, a wreck, and plundered
of everything of value. He failed to find Guzman, that worthy having
taken a hasty departure before his arrival. His ships having come up from
Tehauntepec, he embarked as many soldiers and settlers as his vessels
would carry, and sailed away for Jiminez's island. May 3, 1535, he landed
at the port where Jiminez and his fellow mutineers were killed, which he
named Santa Cruz. The colonists were landed on the supposed island and
the ships were sent back to Chiametla for the remainder of the settlers.
The vessels became separated on the gulf in a storm and the smaller of
the three returned to Santa Cruz. Embarking in it, Cortez set sail to find
his missing ships. He found them at the port of Guayabal, one loaded
with provisions, the other dismantled and run ashore. Its sailors had de-
serted and those of the other ship were about to follow. Cortez stopped
this, took command of the vessels and had them repaired, and then set
sail for his colony.
Finding the interior of the supposed island as desolate and forbidding
as the coast, and the native inhabitants degraded and brutal savages, with-
out houses or clothing, living on vermin, insects and the scant products of
the sterile land, Cortez determined to abandon his colonization scheme.
Gathering together the wretched survivors of his colony, he embarked
them on his ships and in the early part of 1537 landed them in the port of
Acapulco.
At some time between 1535 and 1537 the name California was applied
to the supposed island, but whether applied by Cortez to encourage his
disappointed colonists, or whether given by them in derision, is an unsettled
question. The name itself is derived from a Spanish romance, the "Sergas
de Esplandian," written by Ordonez de Montalvo and published in Seville,
Spain, about the year 1510. The passage in which the name California
occurs is as follows: "Know that on the right hand of the Indies there is
an island called California, very near the terrestrial paradise, which was
peopled with black women, without any men among them, because they
were accustomed to live after the fashion of Amazons. They were of
strong and hardened bodies, of ardent courage and great force. The
island was the strongest in the world from its steep rocks and great cliffs.
Their arms were all of gold and so were the caparison of the wild beasts
which they rode, after having trained them, for in all the island there is no
other metal." The "steep rocks and great cliffs" of Jiminez's island may
have suggested to Cortez or to his colonists some fancied resemblance to
the California of Montalvo's romance, but there was no other similarity.
For years Cortez had been fitting out expeditions by land and sea to
explore the unknown regions northward of that portion of Mexico which
he had conquered, but disaster after disaster had wrecked his hopes and
36 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
impoverished his purse. The last expedition sent out by him was one com-
manded by Francisco Ulloa, who, in 1539, with two ships, sailed up the
Gulf of California, or Sea of Cortez, on the Sonora side, to its head.
Thence he proceeded down the inner coast of Lower California to the cape
at its southern extremity, which he doubled, and then sailed up the outer
coast to Cabo del Engano, the "Cape of Deceit." Failing to make any
progress against the head winds, April 5, 1540, the two ships parted com-
pany in a storm. The smaller one, the Santa Agueda, returned safely to
Santiago. The larger, La Trinidad, after vainly endeavoring to continue
the voyage, turned back. The fate of Ulloa, and of the vessel too, is
uncertain.
The only thing accomplished by this voyage was to demonstrate that
Lower California was a peninsula. Even this fact, although proved by
Ulloa's voyage, was not fully admitted by geographers for two centuries.
In 1540 Cortez returned to Spain to obtain, if possible, some recogni-
tion and recompense from the king for his valuable services. # His declin-
ing years had been filled with bitter disappointments. After expending
nearly a million dollars in explorations, conquests and attempts at coloni-
zation; fretted and worried by the indifference and the ingratitude of a
monarch for whom he had sacrificed so much; disappointed, disheartened,
impoverished, he died at an obscure hamlet near Seville, Spain, in Decem-
ber, 1547.
The next exploration that had something to do with the discovery of
California was that of Hernando de Alarcon. With two ships he sailed
from Acapulco, May 9, 1540, up the Gulf of California. He reached the
head of the Gulf of California. Seeing what he supposed to be an inlet,
but the water proving too shallow for his ships to enter it, he manned two
boats and found his supposed inlet to be the mouth of a great river. He
named it Buena Guia (Good Guide), not Colorado. He sailed up it
some distance and was probably the first white man to set foot upon the
soil of Upper California. He descended the river in his boats, embarked
on his vessels and returned to Mexico. The viceroy, Mendoza, who had
fitted out the expedition of Alarcon, was bitterly disappointed on the return
of that explorer. The report of the discovery of a great river did not
interest his sordid soul. Alarcon found himself a disgraced man. He
retired to private life and not long after died a broken-hearted man.
Explorations in Alta or Nueva California
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, reputed to be a Portuguese by birth and dis-
patched by Mendoza, the viceroy, in command of the San Salvador and the
Vitoria to explore the northwest coast of the Pacific, sailed from Navidad,
June 27, 1542. Rounding the southern extremity of the peninsula of
Lower California, he sailed up its outer coast. On August 20 he reached
Cabo del Engano, the most northerly point of Ulloa's exploration. On
the 28th of September, 1542, he entered a bay which he named San Miguel
(now San Diego), where he found "a land-locked and very good harbor."
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 37
He remained in this harbor until October 3. Continuing his voyage, he
sailed along the coast eighteen leagues, discovering two islands which he
named San Salvador and Vitoria after his ships (now Santa Catalina and
San Clemente). On the 8th of October he crossed the channel between
the islands and mainland and anchored in a bay which he named Bahia de
los Fumos y Fuegos, the Bay of Smokes and Fires (now known as the
Bay of San Pedro). Heavy clouds of smoke hung over the headlands of
the coast; and inland, tierce fires were raging. The Indians, either through
accident or design, had set fire to the long dry grass that covered the
plains at this season of the year.
After sailing six leagues further up the coast, he anchored in a large
ensenada or bight, now the Bay of Santa Monica. It is uncertain whether
he landed at either place. The next day he sailed eight leagues to an
Indian town, which he named the Pueblo de las Canoas (the Town of
Canoes) . This town was located on or near the present site of San Buena-
ventura. Sailing northwestward, he passed through the Santa Barbara
Channel, discovering the islands of Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San
Miguel. Continuing up the coast, he passed a long narrow point of land
extending into the sea, which from its resemblance to a galley boat he
named Cabo de la Galera, the Cape of the Galley (now called Point Con-
cepcion). Baffled by head winds, the explorers slowly beat their way up
the coast. On the 17th of November they cast anchor in a large bay which
they named Bahia de los Pinos, the Bay of Pines (now the Bay of Mon-
terey) . Finding it impossible to land on account of the heavy sea, Cabrillo
continued his voyage northward. After reaching a point on the coast in
forty degrees north latitude, according to his reckoning, the increasing
cold and the storms becoming more frequent, he turned back and ran
down the coast to the island of San Miguel, which he reached November
23. Here he decided to winter.
While on the island in October, he had broken his arm by a fall. Suf-
fering from his broken arm, he had continued in command. Exposure and
unskilful surgery caused his death. He died January 3, 1543, and was
buried on the island. No trace of his grave has ever been found.
Cabrillo on his deathbed urged his successor in command, the pilot
Bartolome Ferrolo, to continue the exploration. Ferrolo prosecuted the
voyage of discovery with a courage and daring equal to that of Cabrillo.
February 28 he discovered a cape which he named Mendocino in honor of
the viceroy, a name it still bears. Passing the cape he encountered a fierce
storm which drove him violently to the northeast, greatly endangering his
ships. On March 1, the fog partially lifting, he discovered a cape which
he named Blanco, in the southern part of what is now the State of Oregon.
The weather continuing stormy and the cold increasing as he sailed north-
ward, Ferrolo reluctantly turned back. Running down the coast, he reached
the island of San Clemente. There in a storm the ships parted company
and Ferrolo, after a search, gave up the Vitoria as lost. The ships, how-
ever, came together at Cerros Island; and from there, in sore distress for
38 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
provisions, the explorers reached Navidad, April 18, 1543. On the dis-
coveries made by Cabrillo and Ferrolo the Spaniards claimed the territory
on the Pacific coast of North America up to the 42nd degree of north
latitude, a claim that they maintained for three hundred years.
The next navigator who visited California was Francis Drake, an Eng-
lishman. He was not seeking new lands, but a way to escape the vengeance
of the Spaniards. Francis Drake, the "Sea King of Devon," was one of
the bravest men that ever lived. Early in his maritime life he had suffered
from the cruelty and injustice of the Spaniards. Throughout his subse-
quent career, which reads more like romance than reality, he let no oppor-
tunity slip to punish his old-time enemies. It mattered little to Drake
whether his country was at peace or war with Spain; he considered a Span-
ish ship or a Spanish town his legitimate prey.
Drake sailed out of Plymouth harbor, England, December 13, 1577, in
command of a fleet of five small vessels, bound for the Pacific coast of
South America. Some of his vessels were lost at sea and others turned
back, until when he emerged frqm the Straits of Magellan he had but one
left, the Pelican. He changed its name to the Golden Hind. It was a ship
of only one hundred tons' burden. Sailing up the South Pacific coast, he
spread terror and devastation among the Spanish settlements, robbing
towns and capturing ships until, in the quaint language of a chronicler of
the expedition, he "had loaded his vessel with a fabulous amount of fine
wares of Asia, precious stones, church ornaments, gold plate and so mooch
silver as did ballas the Goulden Hinde."
From one treasure ship, the Caca Fuego, he obtained thirteen chests of
silver, eighty pounds weight of gold, twenty-six tons of uncoined silver,
two silver drinking vessels, precious stones and a quantity of jewels; the
total value of his prize amounted to three hundred and sixty thousand pesos
(dollars). Having spoiled the Spaniards of treasure amounting to "eight
hundred sixty-six thousand pesos of silver, ... a hundred thousand pesos
of gold, . . . and other things of great worth, he thought it not good to
return by the streight (Magellan) . . . least the Spaniards should there
waite and attend for him in great numbers and strength, whose hands, he
being left but one ship, he could not possibly escape."
Surfeited with spoils and his ship loaded with plunder, it became neces-
sary for him to find the shortest and safest route home. To return by the
way he came was to invite certain destruction to his ship and death to all
on board. At an island off the coast of Nicaragua he overhauled and refit-
ted his ship. He determined to seek the Straits of Anian, that were be-
lieved to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Striking boldly out on an
unknown sea, he sailed more than a thousand leagues northward. Encoun-
tering contrary winds, and the cold increasing as he advanced, he gave up
his search for the mythical straits, and, turning, he ran down the northwest
coast of North America to latitude thirty-eight degrees, where "hee
found a harborrow for his ship." He anchored in it June 17, 1579. This
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 39
*
"convenient and fit harborrow" is under the lee of Point Reyes and is
now known as Sir Francis Drake's Bay.
Fletcher, the chronicler of Drake's voyage, in his narrative, "The
World Encompassed," says: "The 3rd day following, viz., the 21st, our
ship having received a leake at sea was brought to anchor neerer the
shoare that her goods being landed she might be repaired."
The ship was drawn upon the beach, careened on its side, caulked and
refitted. While the crew were repairing the ship, the natives visited them
in great numbers. From certain ceremonial performance Drake imagined
that the Indians were offering him the sovereignty of their land and them-
selves as subjects of the English crown. He gladly accepted their prof-
fered allegiance and formally took possession of the country in the name
of the English sovereign, Queen Elizabeth. He named it New Albion.
Having completed the repairs to his ship, Drake made ready to depart,
but before leaving he set up a monument to show that he had taken posses-
sion of the country. To a large post firmly set in the ground he nailed a
brass plate on which was engraved the name of the English Queen, the date
of his arrival, and the statement that the king and people of the country
had voluntarily become vassals of the English crown; a new sixpence was
fastened to the plate to show the Queen's likeness.
After a stay of thirty-six days, Drake took his departure, much to the
regret of the Indians. He stopped at the Farallones Islands for a short
time to lay in a supply of seal meat; then he sailed for England by the way
of the Cape of Good Hope. After encountering many perils, he arrived
safely at Plymouth, the port from which he sailed nearly three years before,
having circumnavigated the globe. His exploits and the booty he brought
back made him the most famous naval hero of his time. He was knighted
by Queen Elizabeth and accorded extraordinary honors by the nation. He
believed himself the first discoverer of the country he called New Albion.
The English founded no claim on Drake's discoveries. The land
hunger that characterizes that nation now had not then been developed.
Fifty years passed after Cabrillo's visit to California before another
attempt was made by the Spaniards to explore her coast. In September,
1595, just before the viceroy, Don Luis de Velasco, was superseded by
Conde de Monte Rey, he entered into a contract with certain parties, of
whom Sebastian Viscaino, a ship captain, was the principal, to make an
expedition up the Gulf of California "for the purpose of fishing for pearls."
There was also a provision in the contract empowering Viscaino to make
explorations and take possession of his discoveries for the crown of Spain.
In September, 1596, Viscaino sailed up the gulf with a fleet of three vessels,
the flagship San Francisco, the San Jose, and a Lancha. The flagship was
disabled and left at La Paz. With the other two vessels he sailed up the
gulf to latitude twenty-nine degrees. He encountered severe storms. At
some island he had trouble with the Indians and killed several. As the
long-boat was departing, an Indian wounded one of the rowers with an
arrow. The sailor dropped his oar, and the boat careened and upset,
40 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
drowning twenty of the twenty-six soldiers and sailors in it. Viscaino re-
turned without having procured any pearls or made any important dis-
coveries. After five years' waiting, he was allowed to proceed with his
explorations.
Viscaino followed the same course marked out by Cabrillo sixty years
before. November 10, 1602, he anchored in Cabrillo's Bay of San Miguel.
Whether the faulty reckoning of Cabrillo left him in doubt of the points
named by the first discoverer, or whether it was that he might receive the
credit of their discovery, Viscaino changed the names given by Cabrillo to
the islands, bays and headlands along the California coast. Cabrillo's
Bahia San Miguel became the Bay of San Diego; San Salvador and Vitoria
were changed to Santa Catalina and San Clemente; and Cabrillo's Bahia de
ios Fumos y Fuegos appears on Viscaino's map as the Ensenada de San
Andres, but in a description of the voyage compiled by the cosmographer,
Cabrero Bueno, it is named San Pedro. It is not named for the Apostle
St. Petei, but for St. Peter, Bishop of Alexandria, whose day in the Catho-
lic calendar is November 26, the day of the month Viscaino anchored in
the Bay of San Pedro.
Sailing up the coast, Viscaino passed through the Santa Barbara Chan-
nel, which was so named by Antonio de la Ascencion, a Carmelite friar,
who was chaplain of one of the ships. The expedition entered the channel
December 4, which is the day in the Catholic calendar dedicated to Santa
Barbara. He visited the mainland near Point Concepcion, where the
Indian chief of a populous rancheria offered each Spaniard who would
become a resident of his town ten wives. This generous offer was rejected.
December 15, 1602, he reached Point Pinos, so named by Cabrillo, and
cast anchor in the bay formed by its projection. This bay he named Mon-
terey, in honor of the viceroy, Conde de Monte Rey. Many of his men
were sick with the scurvy, and his provisions were becoming exhausted.
So, placing the sick and disabled on the San Tomas, he sent them back to
Acapulco; but few of them ever reached their destination. On the 3rd of
January, 1603, with two ships, he proceeded on his way. After sighting
Cape Blanco, he turned and sailed down the coast of California, reaching
Acapulco March 21, 1603.
Viscaino, in a letter to the King of Spain, dated at the City of Mexico,
May 23, 1603, grows enthusiastic over California's climate and produc-
tions. It is the earliest known specimen of California boom literature.
After depicting the commodiousness of Monterey Bay as a port of safety
for the Philippine ships, he says:
"This port is sheltered from all winds, while on the immediate shores
there are pines, from which masts of any desired size can be obtained, as
well as live oaks and white oaks, rosemary, the vine, the rose of Alexan-
dria, a great variety of game, such as rabbits, hare, partridges and other
sorts and species found in Spain. This land has a genial climate, its waters
are good and it is fertile, judging from the varied and luxuriant growth of
trees and plants; and it is thickly settled with people whom I found to be
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 41
of gentle disposition, peaceable and docile. . . . Their food consists of
seeds, which they have in great abundance and variety, and of the flesh of
game such as deer, which are larger than cows, and bear, and of neat cattle
and bisons and many other animals. . . . They are well acquainted with
gold and silver and said that these were found in the interior."
The object of Viscaino's boom literature of three. hundred years ago
was the promotion of a colony scheme for the founding of a settlement on
Monterey Bay. He visited Spain to obtain the consent of the king and
assistance in planting a colony. After many delays, Philip III, in 1606,
ordered the viceroy of New Spain to fit out immediately an expedition to
be commanded by Viscaino for the occupation and settlement of the port
of Monterey. Before the expedition could be gotten ready, however, Vis-
caino died and his colonization scheme died with him.
Colonization of Alta California
A hundred and sixty years passed after the abandonment of Viscaino's
colonization scheme before the Spanish crown made another attempt to
utilize its vast possessions in Alta California.
The Jesuits had begun missionary work in 1697 among the degraded
inhabitants of Lower California. With a perseverance that was highly
commendable and a bravery that was heroic, under their devoted leaders
Salvatierra, Kino, Ugarte, Piccolo and their successors, they founded six-
teen missions on the peninsula.
For years there had been, in the Catholic countries of Europe, a grow-
ing fear and distrust of the Jesuits. Portugal had declared them traitors
to the government and had banished them in 1759 from her dominions.
France had suppressed the order in her domains in 1764. In 1767, King
Carlos III, by a pragmatic sanction or decree, ordered their expulsion from
Spain and all her American colonies.
The Lower California missions were transferred to the Franciscans,
but it took time to make the substitution. At the head of the Franciscan
contingent that came to Bahia, Cal., to take charge of the abandoned mis-
sions, was Father Junipero Serra. His success as a preacher and his great
missionary zeal led to his selection as president of the missions of Califor-
nia, from which the Jesuits had been removed. April 2, 1768, he arrived
in the port of Loreto with fifteen associates from the College of San Fer-
nando. These were sent to the different missions of the peninsula. These
missions extended over a territory seven hundred miles in length and it
required several months to locate all the missionaries. The scheme for the
occupation and colonization of Alta California was to be jointly the work
of Church and State. The representative of the State was Jose de Galvez,
visitador-general of New Spain, a man of untiring energy, great executive
ability, sound business sense and, as such men are and ought to be, some-
what arbitrary. Galvez reached La Paz in July, 1768. He immediately
set about investigating the condition of the peninsula missions and supply-
ing their needs. This done, he turned his attention to the northern coloni-
42 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
zation. He established his headquarters at Santa Ana near La Paz. Here
he summoned Father Junipero for consultation in regard to the founding
of missions in Alta California. It was decided to proceed to the initial
points San Diego and Monterey by land and sea.
The first vessel fitted out for the expedition by sea was the San Carlos,
a ship of about two hundred tons burden, leaky and badly constructed. She
sailed from La Paz January 9, 1769, under the command of Vicente Vila.
In addition to the crew there were twenty-five Catalonian soldiers, com-
manded by Lieutenant Fages, Pedro Prat, the surgeon, a Franciscan friar,
two blacksmiths, a baker, a cook and two tortilla makers. Galvez in a
small vessel accompanied the San Carlos to Cape San Lucas, where he
landed and set to work to fit out the San Antonio. On the 15th of Febru-
ary this vessel sailed from San Jose del Cabo (San Jose of the Cape),
under the command of Juan Perez. On this vessel went two Franciscan
friars, Juan Viscaino and Francisco Gomez. Captain Rivera y Moncada,
who was to pioneer the way, had collected supplies and cattle at Velicata
on the northern frontier. From here, with a small force of soldiers, a
gang of neophytes and three muleteers, and accompanied by Padre Crespi,
he began his march to San Diego on March 24, 1*769.
The second land expedition, commanded by Governor Gaspar de Por-
tola in person, began its march from Loreto, March 9, 1769. Father
Serra, who was to have accompanied it, was detained at Loreto by a sore
leg. He joined the expedition at Santa Maria, May 5.
The San Antonio, the last vessel to sail, was the first to arrive at San
Diego. There she remained at anchor, awaiting the arrival of the San
Carlos, the flagship of the expedition, which had sailed more than a month
before her. On April 29, the San Carlos, after a disastrous voyage of 110
days, drifted into the Bay of San Diego, her crew prostrated with the
scurvy, not enough able-bodied men being left to man a boat.
On the 14th of May Captain Rivera y Moncada's detachment arrived.
The expedition had made the journey from Velicata in fifty-one days. On
the first of July the second division, commanded by Portola, arrived. The
four divisions of the grand expedition were now united, but its numbers
had been greatly reduced. Out of 219 who had set out by land and sea
only 126 remained. The ravages of the scurvy had destroyed the crew of
one of the vessels and greatly crippled that of the other; so it was impos-
sible to proceed by sea to Monterey, the second objective point of the
expedition.
If the mandates of King Carlos III and the instructions of the visitador-
general, Jose de Galvez, were to be carried out, the expedition for the set-
tlement of the second point designated (Monterey) must be made by
land; accordingly Governor Portola set about organizing his forces for
the overland journey. On the 14th of July the expedition began its march.
It consisted of Governor Portola, Padres Crespi and Gomez, Captain
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 43
Rivera y Moncada, Lieutenant Pedro Fages, Engineer Miguel Constanso,
soldiers, muleteers and Indian servants, numbering in all sixty-two persons.
On the 16th of July, two days after the departure of Governor Por-
tola, Father Junipero, assisted by Padres Viscaino and Parron, founded
the mission of San Diego.
The San Jose, the third ship fitted out by Visitador-General Galvez,
and which Governor Portola expected to find in the Bay of Monterey,
sailed from San Jose del Cabo in May, 1770, with supplies and a double
crew to supply the loss of sailors on the other vessels, but nothing was ever
heard of her afterwards. Provisions were running low at San Diego, no
ship had arrived, and Governor Portola had decided to abandon the place
and return to Loreto. Father Junipero was averse to this and prayed un-
ceasingly for the intercession of Saint Joseph, the patron of the expedition.
On the 23rd of March, when all were ready to depart, the packet San
Antonio arrived. She had sailed from San Bias the 20th of December.
She encountered a storm which drove her 400 leagues from the. coast; then
she made land at thirty-five degrees north latitude. Turning her prow
southward, she ran down to Point Concepcion, where at an anchorage in
the Santa Barbara Channel the captain, Perez, took on water and learned
from the Indians of the return of Portola's expedition. The vessel then
ran down to San Diego, where its opportune arrival prevented the aban-
donment of that settlement.
With an abundant supply of provisions and a vessel to carry the heavier
articles needed in forming a settlement at Monterey, Portola organized a
second expedition. This time he took with him only twenty soldiers and
one officer, Lieutenant Pedro Fages. He set out from San Diego on the
17th of April and followed his trail made the previous year. Father Serra
and the engineer, Constanso, sailed on the San Antonio, which left the port
of San Diego on the 16th of April. The land expedition reached Monterey
on the 23rd of May and the San Antonio on the 31st of the same month.
On the 3rd of June, 1770, the mission of San Carlos Borromeo de Mon-
terey was formally founded with solemn church ceremonies, accompanied
by the ringing of bells, the crack of musketry and the roar of cannon.
Father Serra conducted the church services. Governor Portola took pos-
session of the land in the name of King Carlos III. A presidio or fort of
palisades was built and a few huts erected. Portola, having formed the
nucleus of a settlement, turned over the command of the territory to
Lieutenant Fages. On the 9th of July, 1770, he sailed on the San Antonio
for San Bias. He never returned to Alta California. In 1777 this mission
was moved to Carmel Valley, and here it became known as El Carmel
Mission.
Then the following nineteen missions were established in order of
dates as here given:
San Antonio de Padua, San Luis Obispo County, June 14, 177l.
San Gabriel d' Arcangel, San Luis Obispo County, September 8, 1771.
44 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, San Luis Obispo County, September 1,
1772.
Dolores, or San Francisco de Assis, San Francisco, October 9, 1776.
San Juan Capistrano, Los Angeles County (now Orange County),
November 10, 1776.
Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, January 12, 1777.
San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara County, March 31, 1782.
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, December 14, 1786.
La Purisima Concepcion (Immaculate Conception), Santa Barbara
County, December 8, 1787.
Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, September 25, 1790.
La Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude), Monterey County, September 29,
1791.
San Jose, Alameda County, June 1 1, 1797.
San Juan Bautista (St. John the Baptist), Monterey County, June 24,
1797.
San Miguel Arcangel, San Luis Obispo County, July 25, 1797.
San Fernando Rey de Espana (Ferdinand, King of Spain), Los Ange-
les County, September 8, 1797.
San Luis Rey de Francia (Louis King of France), San Diego County,
July 13, 1798.
Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara County, September 17, 1804.
San Rafael Arcangel, San Rafael, Marin County, December 14, 1817.
San Francisco de Solano, Sonoma County, August 25, 1823.
Aborgines of California
Whether the primitive California Indian was the low and degraded
being that some modern writers represent him to have been, admits of
doubt. A mission training continued through three generations did not,
perhaps, greatly elevate him in morals. When freed from mission restraint
and brought in contact with the white race, he lapsed into a condition more
degraded and more debased than that in which the missionaries found him.
Whether it was the inherent fault of the Indian or the fault of his train-
ing is a question that is useless to discuss now. If we are to believe the
accounts of the California Indian given by Viscaino and Constanso, who
saw him before he had come in contact with civilization, he was not infe-
rior in intelligence to the normal aborgines of the country east of the
Rocky Mountains.
Sebastian Viscaino thus describes the Indians he found on the shores of
Monterey Bay three hundred years ago:
"The Indians are of good stature and fair complexion, the women
being somewhat less in size than the men and of pleasing countenance.
The clothing of the people of the coast lands consists of the skins of the
sea-wolyes (otter) abounding there, which they tan and dress better than is
done in Castile; they possess also, in great quantity, flax like that of Cas-
tile, hemp and cotton, from which they make fishing-lines and nets for rab-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 45
bits and hares. They have vessels of pine wood very well made, in which
they go to sea with fourteen paddle-men on a side with great dexterity,
even in stormy weather."
Indians who could construct boats of pine boards that took twenty-
eight paddle-men to row were certainly superior in maritime craft to the
birch-bark-canoe savages of the East. We might accuse Viscaino, who
was trying to induce King Philip III to found a colony on Monterey Bay,
of exaggeration in regard to the Indian boats, were not his statements con-
firmed by the engineer, Miguel Constanso, who accompanied Portola's ex-
pedition 167 years after Viscaino visited the coast.
The Indians of the interior valleys and those of the coast belonged to
the same general family. There were no great tribal divisions like those
that existed among the Indians east of the Rocky Mountains. Each
rancheria was to a certain extent independent of all others, although at
times they were known to combine for war or plunder. Although not war-
like, they sometimes resisted the whites in battle with great bravery. Each
village had its own territory in which to hunt and fish and its own section in
which to gather nuts, seeds and herbs. While their mode of living was
somewhat nomadic, they seem to have had a fixed location for their
rancherias.
The early Spanish settlers of California and the mission padres have
left but very meager accounts of the manners, customs, traditions, govern-
ment and religion of the aborigines. The padres were too intent upon
driving out the old religious beliefs of the Indian and instilling new ones to
care much what the aborgine had formerly believed or what traditions or
myths he had inherited from his ancestors. They ruthlessly destroyed his
fetiches and his altars wherever they found them, regarding them as inven-
tions of the devil.
From the descriptions given by Viscaino and Constanso of the coast
Indians, they do not appear to have been the degraded creatures that some
modern writers have pictured them. In mechanical ingenuity they were
superior to the Indians of the Atlantic seaboard or those of the Mississippi
Valley. Much of the credit that has been given to the mission padres for
the patient training they gave the Indians in mechanical arts should be
given to the Indian hrmself. He was no mean mechanic when the padres
took him in hand.
Bancroft says "the Northern California Indians were in every way
superior to the central and southern tribes." The difference was more in
climate than in race. Those of Northern California, living in an invigorat-
ing climate, were more active and more warlike than their sluggish brethren
of the south. They gained their living by hunting larger game than those
of the south, whose subsistence was derived mostly from acorns, seeds,
small game and fish. Those of the interior valleys of the north were of
lighter complexion and had better forms and features than their southern
kinsmen. They were divided into numerous small tribes or clans.
46 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Spaniards never penetrated very far into the Indian country of
the north, and consequently knew little or nothing about the habits and
customs of the aborigines there. After the discovery of gold, the miners
invaded their country in search of the precious metal. The Indians at first
were not hostile, but ill treatment soon made them so. When they re-
taliated on the whites a war of extermination was waged against them.
Like the mission Indians of the south, they are almost extinct.
THE PASSING OF SPAIN'S DOMINATION
The Spaniards were not a commercial people. Their great desire was
to be let alone in their American possessions. Philip II once promulgated
a decree pronouncing death upon any foreigner who entered the Gulf of
Mexico. It was easy to promulgate a decree or to pass restrictive laws
against foreign trade, but quite another thing to enforce them.
After the first settlement of California, seventeen years passed before
a foreign vessel entered any of its ports. The first to arrive were the two
vessels of the French explorer, La Perouse, who anchored in the harbor
of Monterey, September 15, 1786. Being of the same faith, and France
having been an ally of Spain in former times, he was well received. During
his brief stay he made a study of the mission system and his observations
on it are plainly given. He found a similarity in it to the slave plantations
of Santo Domingo.
November 14, 1792, the English navigator, Capt. George Vancouver,
in the ship Discovery, entered the Bay of San Francisco. He was cor-
dially received by the comandante of the port, Hermanagildo Sal, and
the friars of the mission.
Through the English, the Spaniards became acquainted with the im-
portance and value of the fur trade. The bays and lagoons of California
abounded in sea otter. Their skins were worth in China all the way from
$30 to $100 each. The trade was made a government monopoly. The
skins were to be collected from the natives, soldiers and others by the mis-
sionaries, at prices ranging from $2.50 to $10 each, and turned over to
the government officials appointed to receive them. All trade by private
persons was prohibited. The government was sole trader. But the gov-
ernment failed to make the trade profitable. In the closing years of the
century the American smugglers began to haunt the coast. The restrictions
against trade with foreigners were proscriptive and the penalties for eva-
sion severe, but men will trade under the most adverse circumstances.
Spain was a long way off, and smuggling was not a very venal sin in the
eyes of layman or churchman. Fast sailing vessels were fitted out in Bos-
ton for illicit trade on the California coast. Watching their opportunities,
these vessels slipped into the bays and inlets along the coast. There was
a rapid exchange of Yankee notions for sea otter skins, the most valued
peltry of California, and the vessels were out to sea before the revenue
officers could intercept them. If successful in escaping capture, the profits
of a smuggling voyage were enormous, ranging from 500 to 1000 per cent
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 47
above cost on the goods exchanged; but the risks were great. The smug-
gler had no protection; he was an outlaw. He was the legitimate prey of
the padres, the people and the revenue officers. The Yankee smuggler
usually came out ahead. His vessel was heavily armed, and when speed or
stratagem failed he was ready to fight his way out of a scrape.
Each year two ships were sent from San Bias with the memorias —
mission and presidio supplies. These took back a small cargo of the prod-
ucts of the territory, wheat being the principal. This was all the legitimate
commerce allowed California.
The fear of Russian aggression had been one of the causes that had
forced Spain to attempt the colonization of California. Bering, in 1741,
had discovered the strait that bears his name and had taken possession, for
the Russian government, of the northwestern coast of America. Four
years later, the first permanent Russian settlement, Sitka, had been made
on one of the coast islands. Rumors of the Russian explorations and set-
tlements had reached Madrid, and in 1774 Captain Perez, in the San
Antonio, was sent up the coast to find out what the Russians were doing.
Had Russian America contained arable land where grain and vege-
tables could have been grown, it is probable that the Russians and Span-
iards in America would not have come in contact; for another nation, the
United States, had taken possession of the intervening country, bordering
the Columbia River.
The supplies of breadstuffs for the Sitka colonists had to be sent over-
land across Siberia or shipped around Cape Horn. Failure of supplies
sometimes reduced the colonists to sore straits.
On the Sth of April, 1806, Count Rezanoff anchored safely in the Bay
of San Francisco. He had brought with him a cargo of goods for ex-
change but the restrictive commercial regulations of Spain made it difficult
for him to trade with the natives, although the friars and the people needed
the goods Rezanoff brought to exchange. After Rezanoff's visit the Rus-
sians came frequently to California, partly to trade, but more often to hunt
otter. While on these fur-hunting expeditions they examined the coast
north of San Francisco with the design of planting an agricultural colony
where they could raise grain to supply the settlements in the far north. In
1812 they founded a town and built a fort on the coast north of Bodega
Bay, which they named Ross. The fort mounted ten guns. They main-
tained a fort at Bodega Bay and also a small settlement on Russian River.
The Spaniards protested against this aggression and threatened to drive
the Russians out of the territory, but nothing came of their protests and
they were powerless to enforce their demands. The Russian ships came to
California for supplies and were welcomed by the people and the friars if
not by the government officials.
The Russian colony at Ross was not a success, however. After the
decline of fur-hunting the settlement became unprofitable. In 1841 the
buildings and the stock were sold by the Russian governor to Capt. John A.
Sutter for $30,000, and the settlement was abandoned.
48 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Notwithstanding the many changes of rulers that political revolutions
and Napoleonic wars gave the mother country, the people of California
remained loyal to the Spanish crown, although at times they must have
been in doubt who wore the crown.
On the 15th of September, 1810, the patriot priest, Miguel Hidalgo,
struck the first blow for Mexican independence.
Arrillaga was governor of California when the war for Mexican inde-
pendence began. Although born in Mexico he was of pure Spanish par-
entage and was thoroughly in sympathy with Spain in the contest. He
died in 1814 and was succeeded by Pablo Vicente de Sola. Sola was
Spanish-born and was bitterly opposed to the revolution, even going so far
as to threaten death to any one who should speak in favor of it.
As the revolution in Mexico progressed times grew harder in Califor-
nia. The mission memorias ceased to come. No tallow ships from Callao
arrived. The soldiers' pay was years in arrears and their uniforms in rags.
What little wealth there was in the country was in the hands of the padres.
They were supreme. "The friars," says Gilroy, who arrived in California
in 1814, "had everything their own way. The governor and the military
were expected to do whatever the friars requested. The missions contained
all the wealth of the country." The friars supported the government and
supplied the troops with food from the products of the neophytes' labor.
The crude manufacturers of the missions supplied the people with cloth for
clothing and some other necessities. The needs of the common people were
easily satisfied. Gilroy states that at the time of his arrival "there was not
a sawmill, whip saw or spoked wheel in California. Such lumber as was
used was cut with an axe. Chairs, tables and wood floors were not to be
found except in the governor's house. Plates were rare, unless that name
could be applied to the tiles used instead. Money was a rarity. There
were no stores and no merchandise to sell. There was no employment for
a laborer. The neophytes did all the work and all the business of the coun-
try was in the hands of the friars."
The year 1812 was the Aho de los Temblores. The seismic disturbance
that for forty years or more had shaken California seemed to concentrate
in power that year and expend its force on the mission churches. The mas-
sive church of San Juan Capistrano, the pride of mission architecture, was
thrown down and forty persons killed. The walls of San Gabriel Mission
were cracked and some of the saints shaken out of their niches. At San
Buenaventura there were three heavy shocks which injured the church so
that the tower and much of the facade had to be rebuilt. The whole mis-
sion site seemed to settle and the inhabitants, fearful that they might be
engulfed by the sea, moved up the valley about two miles, where they re-
mained three months. At Santa Barbara both church and the presidio were
damaged and at Santa Ynez the church was shaken down. The quakes con-
tinued for several months and the people were so terrified that they aban-
doned their houses and lived in the open air.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 49
The other important epoch of the decade was El Aho de los Insur-
gentes, the year of the insurgents. In November, 1818, Bouchard, a
Frenchman in the service of Buenos Ayres and provided with letters of
marque by San Martain, the president of that republic, to prey upon Span-
ish commerce, appeared in the port of Monterey with two ships carrying
sixty-six guns and 350 men. He attacked Monterey, and after an obstinate
resistance by the Californians it was taken by the insurgents and burned.
Bouchard next pillaged Ortega's rancho and burned the buildings. Then,
sailing down the coast, he scared the Santa Barbaranos; then, keeping on
down, he looked into San Pedro, but finding nothing there to tempt him he
kept on to San Juan Capistrano. There he landed, robbed the mission of a
few articles and drank the padres' wine. Then he sailed away and dis-
appeared. He left six of his men in California, among them Joseph Chap-
man of Boston, the first American resident of California.
THE FREE AND SOVEREIGN STATE OF ALTA CALIFORNIA
Governor Figueroa on his deathbed turned over the civil command of
the territory to Jose Castro, who thereby became "gefe politico ad in-
terim." The military command was given to Lieut.-Colonel Nicolas
Gutierrez, with the rank of comandante general. The separation of the
two commands was in accordance with the national law of May 6, 1822.
Castro executed the civil functions of gefe politico four months; and
then, in accordance with orders from the supreme government, he turned
over his part of the governorship to Comandante General Gutierrez and
again the two commands were united in one person. Gutierrez filled the
office of "gobernador interno" from January 2, 1836, to the arrival of his
successor, Mariano Chico. Chico had been appointed governor by Presi-
dent Barragan, December 16, 1835, but did not arrive in California until
April, 1836. Thus California had four governors within nine months.
They changed so rapidly there was not time to foment a revolution.
Chico .began his administration by a series of petty tyrannies. Exas-
perated beyond endurance by his scandalous conduct and unseemly exhibi-
tions of temper, the people of Monterey rose en masse against him, and so
terrified him that he took passage on board a brig that was lying in the
harbor and sailed for Mexico with the threat that he would return with an
armed force to punish the rebellious Californians; but it was only a threat;
he never came back again.
With the enforced departure of Chico, the civil command of the terri-
tory devolved upon Nicolas Gutierrez, who still held the military command.
Although a mild-mannered man, he seemed to be impressed with the idea
that he must carry out the arbitrary measures of his predecessor.
He quarreled with Juan Bautista Alvarado, the ablest of the native
Californians. Alvarado and Jose Castro raised the standard of revolt.
They gathered together a small army of rancheros and an auxiliary force
of twenty-five American hunters and trappers under Graham, a backwoods-
man from Tennessee. By a strategic movement they captured the castillo
50 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
or fort which commanded the presidio, where Gutierrez and the Mexican
army officials were stationed. The patriots demanded the surrender of the
presidio and the arms. The governor refused. The revolutionists had
been able to find but a single cannon ball in the Castillo, but this was suffi-
cient to do the business. A well-directed shot tore through the roof of the
governor's house, covering him and his staff with the debris of broken tiles;
that and the desertion of most of his soldiers to the patriots brought him
to terms. On the 5th of November, 1836, he surrendered the presidio and
resigned his authority as governor. He and about seventy of his adherents
were sent aboard a vessel lying in the harbor and shipped out of the country.
With the Mexican governor and his officers out of the country, the next
move of Castro and Alvarado was to call a meeting of the diputacion or
territorial congress. A plan for the independence of California was
adopted.
Castro issued a pronunciamiento, ending with "Viva La Federacion!
Viva La Libertad ! Viva el Estado Libre y Soberano de Alta California !"
Thus amid vivas and proclamations, with the beating of drums and the
booming of cannon, El Estado Libre de Alta California (The Free State
of Alta California) was launched on the political sea.
Notwithstanding this apparent burying of the hatchet, over the diffi-
culties arising because of the insistence of claimants in the south for the
capital at Los Angeles, rather than at Monterey, and notwithstanding con-
siderable trouble that had arisen and several battles fought and won by
Alvarado's forces, there were rumors of plots and intrigues in Los Angeles
and San Diego against Alvarado. At length, aggravated beyond endur-
ance, the governor sent word to the surenos that if they did not behave
themselves he would shoot ten of the leading men of the south. As he had
about that number locked up in the Castillo at Sonoma, his was no idle
threat. One by one Alvarado's prisoners of state were released from
Vallejo's bastile at Sonoma and returned to Los Angeles, sadder if not
wiser men. At the session of the ayuntamiento on October 20, 1838, the
president announced that Sehor Regidor Jose Palomares had returned from
Sonoma, where he had been compelled to go by reason of "political differ-
ences," and that he should be allowed his seat in the council. The request
was granted unanimously.
The surenos of Los Angeles and San Diego, finding that in Alvarado
they had a man of courage and determination to deal with, ceased from
troubling him and submitted to the inevitable. At the meeting of the
ayuntamiento, October 5, 1839, a notification was received, stating that
the supreme government of Mexico had appointed Juan Bautista Alvarado
governor of the department. There was no grumbling nor dissent. On
the contrary, the records say, "This illustrious body acknowledges receipt
of the communication and congratulates His Excellency. It will announce
the same to the citizens tomorrow (Sunday), will raise the national colors,
salute the same with the required number of volleys, and will invite the
people to illuminate their houses for a better display in rejoicing at such a
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 51
happy appointment." With his appointment by the supreme government
the "Free and Sovereign State of Alta California" became no more than
a dream of the past.
DECLINE AND FALL OF MEXICAN DOMINATION
While the revolution begun by Alvarado and Castro had not established
California's independence, it had effectually rid the territory of Mexican
dictators. A native son was governor of the department of the Californias
(by the constitution of 1836 Upper and Lower California had been united
into a department) ; another native son was comandante of its military
forces. The membership of the departmental junta, which had taken the
place of the diputacion, was largely made up of sons of the soil, and natives
filled the minor offices. In their zeal to rid themselves of Mexican office-
holders, they had invoked the assistance of another element that was ulti-
mately to be their undoing.
During the revolutionary era just passed the foreign population had
largely increased. Not only had the foreigners come by sea, but they had
come by land. Capt. Jedediah S. Smith, a New England-born trapper and
hunter, was the first man to enter California by the overland route. A
number of trappers and hunters came in the early thirties from New Mex-
ico by way of the old Spanish trail. This immigration was largely Ameri-
can, and was made up of a bold, adventurous class of men, some of them
not the most desirable immigrants. Of this latter class were some of
Graham's followers.
By invoking Graham's aid to put him in power, Alvarado had fastened
upon his shoulders an old Man of the Sea. It was easy enough to enlist the
services of Graham's riflemen, but altogether another matter to get rid of
them when no longer needed.
There were rumors of another revolution, and it was not difficult to per-
suade Alvarado that the foreigners were plotting to revolutionize Califor-
nia. Mexico had recently lost Texas, and the same class of "malditos
extranjeros" (wicked strangers) were invading California, and would ulti-
mately possess themselves of the country. Accordingly, secret orders were
sent throughout the department to arrest and imprison all foreigners. Over
100 men of different nationalities were arrested, principally Americans and
English. Of these forty-seven were shipped to San Bias, and from there
marched overland to Tepic, where they were imprisoned for several
months. Through the efforts of the British consul, Barron, they were re-
leased. Castro, who had accompanied the prisoners to Mexico to prefer
charges against them, was placed under arrest and afterwards tried by
court-martial, but was acquitted. He had been acting under orders from
his superiors. After an absence of over a year twenty of the exiles landed
at Monterey on their return from Mexico. Robinson, who saw them land,
says: "They returned neatly dressed, armed with rifles and swords, and
looking in much better condition than when they were sent away, or prob-
52 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
ably than they had ever looked in their lives before." The Mexican gov-
ernment had been compelled to pay them damages for their arrest and im-
prisonment and to return them to California.
The only other event of importance during Alvarado's term as gov-
ernor was the capture of Monterey by Commodore Ap Catesby Jones, of
the United States navy. This event happened after Alvarado's successor,
Micheltorena, had landed in California, but before the government had
been formally turned over to him.
The following extract from the diary of a pioneer, who was an eye-
witness of the affair, gives a good description of the capture:
"Monterey, Oct. 19, 1842. — At 2 p. m. the United States man-of-war
United States, Commodore Ap Catesby Jones, came to anchor close along-
side and in-shore of all the ships in port. About 3 p. m. Captain Arm-
strong came ashore, accompanied by an interpreter, and went direct to the
governor's house, where he had a private conversation with him, which
proved to be a demand for the surrender of the entire coast of California,
Upper and Lower, to the United States government. When he was about
to go on board he gave three or four copies of a proclamation to the
inhabitants of the two Californias, assuring them of the protection of their
lives, persons and property. In his notice to the governor (Alvarado) he
gave him only until the following morning at 9 a. m. to decide. If he re-
ceived no answer, then he would fire upon the town.
"I remained on shore that night and went down to the governor's with
Mr. Larkin and Mr. Eagle. The governor had had some idea of running
away and leaving Monterey to its fate, but was told by Mr. Spence that he
should not go, and finally he resolved to await the result. At 12 at night
some persons were sent on board the United States who had been appointed
by the governor to meet the commodore and arrange the terms of the sur-
render. Next morning at half-past 10 o'clock about one hundred sailors
and fifty marines disembarked. The sailors marched up from the shore
and took possession of the fort. The American colors were hoisted. The
United States fired a salute of thirteen guns; it was returned by the fort,
which fired twenty-six guns. The marines in the meantime had marched
up to the government house. The officers and soldiers of the California
government were discharged and their guns and other arms taken posses-
sion of and carried to the fort. The stars and stripes now wave over us.
Long may they wave here in California!"
"Oct. 21, 4 p. m. — Flags were again changed, the vessels were released,
and all was quiet again. The commodore had received later news by some
Mexican newspapers."
Commodore Jones had been stationed at Callao with a squadron of four
vessels. An English fleet was also there, and a French fleet was cruising
in the Pacific. Both these were supposed to have designs on California.
Jones learned that the English admiral had received orders to sail next
day. Surmising that his destination might be California, he slipped out of
the harbor the night before and crowded all sail to reach California before
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 53
the English admiral. The loss of Texas, and the constant influx of immi-
grants and adventurers from the United States into California, had embit-
tered the Mexican government more and more against foreigners. Manuel
Micheltorena, who had served under Santa Anna in the Texas war, was
appointed January 19, 1842, comandante-general inspector and gobernador
propietario of the Californias.
Santa Anna was president of the Mexican republic. His experience
with Americans in Texas during the Texan war of independence, in
1836-1837, had determined him to use every effort to prevent California
from sharing the fate of Texas.
Micheltorena, the newly appointed governor, was instructed to take
with him sufficient force to check the ingress of Americans. He recruited
a force of 350 men, principally convicts enlisted from the prisons of Mex-
ico. His army of thieves and ragamuffins landed at San Diego in August,
1842.
Micheltorena drilled his Falstaffian army at San Diego for several
weeks and then began his march northward; Los Angeles made great
preparations to receive the new governor. Seven years had passed since
she had been decreed the capital of the territory, and in all these years she
had been denied her rights by Monterey. A favorable impression on the
new governor might induce him to make the ciudad his capital. After a
stay of a month in the city Micheltorena and his army took up their line
of march northward. He reached a point about twenty miles north of
San Fernando, when, on the night of the 24th of October, a messenger
aroused him from his slumbers with the news that the capital had been cap-
tured by the Americans. He spent the remainder of the night in fulminat-
ing proclamations against the invaders fiercer than the thunderbolts of
Jove, copies of which were dispatched posthaste to Mexico. Then, with
his own courage and doubtless that of his brave cholos aroused to the
highest pitch, instead of rushing on the invaders, he and his army fled back
to San Fernando, where, afraid to advance or retreat, he halted until news
reached him that Commodore Jones had restored Monterey to the Cali-
fornians. Then his valor reached the boiling point. He boldly marched
to Los Angeles, established his headquarters in the city and awaited the
coming of Commodore Jones and his officers from Monterey.
On the 19th of January, 1843, Commodore Jones and his staff came
to Los Angeles to meet the governor. At the famous conference in the
Palacio de Don Abel, Micheltorena presented his articles of convention.
Next morning, January 21, Jones and his officers took their departure
from the city amidst the beating of drums, the firing of cannon and the
ringing of bells, saluted by the general and his wife from the door of their
quarters. On the 31st of December Micheltorena had taken the oath of
office in Sanchez's Hall, which stood on the east side of the plaza. Salutes
were fired, the bells were rung and the city was illuminated for three eve-
nings. For the second time a governor was inaugurated in Los Angeles.
54 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Micheltorena and his cholo army remained in Los Angeles about eight,
months. The Angelenos had all the capital they cared for. They were
perfectly willing to have the governor and his army take up their residence
in Monterey. The cholos had devoured the country like an army of
chapules (locusts) and were willing to move on.
Micheltorena, while not a model governor, had many good qualities
and was generally liked by the better class of foreign residents. He made
an earnest effort to establish a system of public education in the territory.
Schools were established in all the principal towns, and territorial aid from
the public funds to the amount of $500 each was given them. But he was
unreliable and not careful to keep his agreements. He might have suc-
ceeded in giving California a stable government had it not been for the
antipathy to his soldiers and the old feud between the "hijos del pais" and
the Mexican dictators. These proved his undoing. The native sons under
Alvarado and Castro rose in rebellion. In November, 1844, a revolution
was inaugurated at Santa Clara. The governor marched with an army of
150 men against the rebel forces, numbering about 200. They met at a
place called the Laguna de Alvires. A treaty was signed in which Michel-
torena agreed to ship his cholos back to Mexico.
This treaty the governor deliberately broke. He then intrigued with
Capt. John A. Sutter, of New Helvetia, and Isaac Graham to obtain assist-
ance to crush the rebels. January 9, 1845, Micheltorena and Sutter formed
a junction of their forces at Salinas — their united commands numbering
about 500 men. They marched against the rebels to crush them. But the
rebels did not wait to be crushed.
Another Mexican-born governor was deposed and deported, to join
his fellows, Vitoria, Chico and Gutierrez. In accordance with the treaty
of Cahuenga, and by virtue of his rank as senior member of the depart-
mental assembly, Pio Pico was appointed constitutional governor of Cali-
fornia, September 3, 1845, by President Herrera.
Castro gave Pico a great deal of uneasiness. He ignored the gov-
ernor and managed the military affairs of the territory to suit himself.
His headquarters were at Monterey, and doubtless he had the sympathy if
not the encouragement of the people of the north in his course.
But the cause of the greatest uneasiness was the increasing immigration
from the United States. A stream of emigrants from the western States,
increasing each year, poured down the Sierra Nevadas and spread over the
rich valleys of California. The Californians recognized that through the
advent of these "foreign adventurers," as they called them, the "manifest
destiny" of California was to be absorbed by the United States.
In the summer of 1845 a force of 600 veteran soldiers, under com-
mand of Colonel Iniestra, reached Acapulco, where ships were lying to take
them to California; but a revolution broke out in Mexico and the troops
destined for the defense of California were used to overthrow President
Herrera and to seat Paredes. California was left to work out her own
destiny unaided or drift with the tide — and she drifted.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 55
Marsh's Letter to Cass
The following letter, which Dr. Marsh wrote to Hon. Lewis Cass,
Secretary of War, in 1842, is so illuminative of the period and the situa-
tion, that we give it in full:
"Farm of Pulpines, near St. Francisco,
Upper California, 1842.
"Hon. Lewis Cass.
"Dear Sir: You will probably be somewhat surprised to receive a
letter from an individual from whom you have not heard, or even thought
of, for nearly twenty years; yet although the lapse of time has wrought
many changes both in men and things, the personal identity of us both has
probably been left. You will, I think, remember a youth whom you met
at Green Bay in 1825, who, having left his Alma Mater, had spent a year
or two in the 'far, far West,' and was then returning to his New England
home, and whom you induced to turn his face again toward the setting
sun; that youth who, but for your influence, would probably now have been
administering pills in some quiet Yankee village, is now a gray-haired man,
breeding cattle and cultivating grape-vines on the shores of the Pacific.
Your benevolence prompted you to take an interest in the fortunes of that
youth, and it is therefore presumed you may not be unwilling to hear from
him again.
"I left the United States in 1835, and came to New Mexico, and thence
traversing the States of Chihuahua and Sonora, crossed the Rio Colorado
at its junction with the Gila, near the tidewater of Gulph, and entered this
territory at its southern part. Any more direct route was at that time un-
known and considered impracticable.
"I have now been more than ten years in this country, and have traveled
over all the inhabited and most of the uninhabited parts of it. I have
resided eight years where I now live, near the Bay of San Francisco, and at
the point where the rivers Sacramento and San Joaquin unite together to
meet the tide-water of the bay, about forty miles from the ocean. I possess
at this place a farm about ten miles by twelve in extent, one side of which
borders on the river, which is navigable to this point for sea-going vessels.
I have at last found the far West, and intend to end my ramblings here.
"I perceive by the public papers that this region of country, including
that immediately north of it, which until lately was the most completely a
terra incognita of any portion of the globe, is at length attracting the atten-
tion of the United States and Europe. The world, at length, seems to
have become awake to the natural advantages of California and Oregon,
and it seems probable that at the same moment I am writing, their political
destinies are about being settled, at least for a long time to come. I men-
tion the two countries together because I conceive the future destiny of this
whole region to be one and inseparable. The natural conformation of the
country strongly indicates it, and a sympathy and fellow feeling in the in-
habitants is taking place, which must soon bring about the consummation.
56 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
California, as well as Oregon, is rapidly peopling with emigrants from the
United States. Even the inhabitants of Spanish origin, tired of anarchy
and misrule, would be glad to come under the American Government.
"The Government of the United States, in encouraging and facilitating
emigration to Oregon, is, in fact, helping to people California. It is like
the British Government sending settlers to Canada. The emigrants are
well aware of the vast superiority of California, both in soil and climate,
and I may add, facility of access. Every year shorter and better routes
are being discovered, and this year the great desideratum of a good and
practical road for wheel carriages has been found. Fifty-three wagons,
with that number of families, have arrived safely, and more than a month
earlier than any previous company. The American Government encourages
emigration to Oregon by giving gratuitously some five or six hundred acres
of land to each family of actual settlers. California, too, gives lands, not
by acres, but by leagues, and has some thousands of leagues more to give
to anybody who will occupy them. Never in any instance has less than one
league been given to any individual, and the wide world from which to
select from all the unoccupied lands in the territory. While Col. Almonte,
the Mexican Minister to Washington, is publishing his proclamations in
the American newspapers forbidding people to emigrate to California, and
telling them that no lands will be given them, the actual Government here is
doing just the contrary. In fact they care about as much for the Govern-
ment of Mexico as for that of Japan.
"It has been usual to estimate the population of Upper California at
five thousand persons of Spanish descent, and twenty thousand Indians.
This estimate may have been near the truth twenty years ago. At present
the population may be stated in round numbers at seven thousand Spaniards,
ten thousand civilized, or rather domesticated Indians. To this may be
added about seven hundred Americans, one hundred English, Irish, and
Scotch, and about one hundred French, Germans, and Italians.
"Within the territorial limits of Upper California, taking the parallel
of 42° for the northern, and the Colorado River for the southeastern
boundary, are an immense number of wild, naked, brute Indians. The
number, of course, can only be conjectured. They probably exceed a mil-
lion, and may perhaps amount to double that number.
"The far-famed missions of California no longer exist. They have
nearly all been broken up, and the lands apportioned out into farms. They
were certainly munificent ecclestiastical baronies; and although their ex-
istence was quite incompatible with the general prosperity of the country,
it seems almost a pity to see their downfall. The immense piles of build-
ings and beautiful vineyards and orchards are all that remain, with the
exception of two in the southern part of the territory, which still retain a
small remnant of their former prosperity.
"The climate of California is remarkably different from that of the
United States. The great distinguishing difference is its regularity and
uniformity. From May to October the wind is invariably from the north-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 57
west, and during this time it never rains, and the sky is brilliantly clear and
serene. The weather during this time is temperate, and rarely oppressively
warm. The nights are always agreeably cool, and many of the inhabi-
tants sleep in the open air the whole year round. From October to May
the southeast wind frequently blows, and is always accompanied by rain.
Snow never falls excepting in the mountains. Frost is rare except in De-
cember or January. A proof of the mildness of the winter this moment
presents itself in the shape of a humming-bird, which I just saw from the
open window, and this is in latitude 38° on the first day of February.
Wheat is sown from October until March, and maize from March until
July. As respects human health and comfort, the climate is incomparably
better than that of any part of the United States. It is much the most
healthy country I have ever seen or have any knowledge of. There is no
disease whatever that can be attributed to the influence of the climate.
"The face of the country differs as much from the United States as the
climate. The whole territory is traversed by ranges of mountains, which
run parallel to each other and to the coast. The highest points may be
about six thousand feet above the sea, in most places much lower, and in
many parts they dwindle to low hills. They are everywhere covered with
grass and vegetation, and many of the valleys and northern declivities
abound with the finest timber trees. Between these ranges of mountains
are level valleys, or rather plains, of every width, from five miles to fifty.
The magnificent valley through which flow the rivers of St. Joaquin and
Sacramento is five hundred miles long, with an average width of forty or
fifty. It is intersected laterally by many smaller rivers, abounding with
salmon.
"The only inhabitants of this valley, which is capable of supporting a
nation, are about a hundred and fifty Americans and a few Indians. No
published maps that I have seen give any correct idea of the country, ex-
cepting the outline of the coast.
"The Bay of San Francisco is considered by nautical men one of the
finest harbors in the world. It consists of two principal arms, diverging
from the entrance in nearly opposite directions, and each about fifty miles
long, with an average width of eight or ten. It is perfectly sheltered from
every wind, has great depth of water, is easily accessible at all times, and
space enough for half the ships in the world. The entrance is less than a
mile wide, and could be easily fortified so as to make it entirely impreg-
nable. The vicinity abounds in the finest timber for ship-building, and in
fact everything necessary to make it a great naval and commercial depot.
If it were in the hands of a nation who knew how to make use of it, its
influence would soon be felt on all the western coast of America, and
probably through the whole Pacific.
"I think it cannot long remain in the hands of its present owners. If
it does not come into possession of Americans, the English will have it.
This port in their hands, what will Oregon be worth to the United States?
They loudly threaten to get possession of Cuba as an offset against Texas.
58 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Will they not be quite as likely to obtain California, as an offset against
Oregon? A British ship of war was here last summer, whose captain was
a brother of Lord Aberdeen, and one of her lieutenants a son of Sir R.
Peel. The gentlemen declared openly that this port would soon belong
to them. This I take to be only a slight ebullition of John Bullism; but
that they want this port, and will have it if possible, there can be no
doubt, a consummation most earnestly and ardently to be deprecated by
every American. I hope it may direct your views to take an interest in
this matter.
"The agricultural capabilities of California are but very imperfectly
developed. The whole of it is remarkably adapted to the culture of the
vine. Wine and brandy of excellent quality are made in considerable
quantities. Olives, figs, and almonds grow well. Apples, pears, and
peaches are abundant, and in the southern part oranges. Cotton is be-
ginning to be cultivated and succeeds well. It is the finest country for
wheat I have ever seen. Fifty for one is an average crop, with very im-
perfect cultivation. One hundred fold is not uncommon, and even one
hundred and fifty has been produced. Maize produces tolerably well, but
not equal to some parts of the United States. Hemp, flax, and tobacco
have been cultivated on a small scale, and succeed well. The raising of
cattle is the principal pursuit of the inhabitants, and the most profitable.
"The foreign commerce of Upper California employs from ten to fif-
teen sail of vessels, mostly large ships. Somewhat more than half of these
are American, and belong exclusively to the port of Boston. The others
are English, French, Russian, Mexican, Peruvian, and Hawaiian. The
French from the islands in the Pacific and the Russians from Kam-
tschatka, and their establishments on the northwest coast, resort here
for provisions and live stock. The exports consist of hides and tallow,
cows, lard, wheat, soap, timber, and furs. There are slaughtered annually
about one hundred thousand head of cattle, worth $800,000. The whole
value of the exports annually amounts to about $1,000,000. The largest
item of imports is American cotton goods. The duties on imports are
enormously high, amounting on most important articles to one hundred and
fifty per cent on the original cost, and in many instances to four or five
hundred. Thus, as in most Spanish countries, a high bounty is paid to
encourage smuggling. Whale ships visit St. Francisco annually in con-
siderable numbers for refreshments, and fail not to profit by the facilities
for illicit commerce.
"California, although nominally belonging to Mexico, is about as in-
dependent of it as Texas, and must ere long share the same fate. Since
my residence here, no less than four Mexican governors have been driven
from the country by force of arms. The last of these, Micheltorena,
with about four hundred of his soldiers and one hundred employes, was
driven away about a year ago.
"This occurred at the time that the rest of the nation was expelling
his master, Santa Ana, although nothing of this was known here at the
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 59
time. The new administration, therefore, with a good grace, highly ap-
proved of our conduct. In fact, the successive administrations in Mexico
have always shown a disposition to sanction and approve of whatever
we may do here, from a conscious inability to retain even a nominal domin-
ion over the country by any other means. Upper California has been
governed for the last year entirely by its own citizens. Lower California
is in general an uninhabited and uninhabitable desert. The scanty popula-
tion it contains lives near the extremity of the Cape, and has no connection
and little intercourse with this part of the country.
"Upper California has a productive gold mine, and silver ore has been
found in many places. A mine of quicksilver has been very lately found
in this vicinity, which promises to be very valuable.
"I know not, since you have been so long engaged in more weighty
concerns, if you take the same interest as formerly in Indian affairs, but
since I have supposed your personal identity to remain, I shall venture a
few remarks on the aborgines of California. In stature the California
Indian rather exceeds the average of the tribes east of the mountains. He
is heavier limbed and stouter built. They are a hairy race, and some of
them have beards that would do honor to a Turk. The color similar to
that of the Algonquin race, or perhaps rather lighter. The visage, short
and broad, with wide mouth, thick lips, broad nose, and extremely low
forehead. In some individuals the hair grows quite down to the eyebrows,
and they may be said to have no forehead at all. Some few have that pe-
culiar conformation of the eye so remarkable in the Chinese and Tartar
races, and entirely different from the common American Indian or the
Polynesian; and with this unpromising set of features, some have an ani-
mated and agreeable expression of countenance. The general expression
of the wild Indian has nothing of the proud and lofty bearing, or the
haughtiness and ferocity so often seen east of the mountains. It is more
commonly indicative of timidity and stupidity.
"The men and children are absolutely and entirely naked, and the
dress of the women is the least possible or conceivable remove from
nudity. Their food varies with the season. In February and March they
live on grass and herbage; clover and wild pea-vine are among the best
kinds of their pasturage. I have often seen hunderds of them grazing to-
gether in a meadow, like so many cattle.
"They are very poor hunters of the larger animals, but very skilful in
making and managing nets for fish and fowl. They also collect in their
season great quantities of the seeds of various grasses, which are partic-
ularly abundant. Acorns are another principal article of food, which are
larger, more abundant, and of better quality than I have seen elsewhere.
The Californian is not more different from the tribes east of the moun-
tains in his physical than in his moral and intellectual qualities. They are
easily domesticated, not averse to labor, have a natural aptitude to learn
mechanical trades, and, I believe, universally a fondness for music, and a
facility in acquiring it.
60 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
"The Mission of St. Joseph, when in its prosperity, had one hundred
plough-men, and I have often seen them all at work in one field, each with
his plow. It had also fifty weavers, twenty tanners, thirty shoe-makers,
forty masons, twenty carpenters, ten blacksmiths, and various other me-
chanics. They are not nearly so much addicted to intoxication as is com-
mon to other Indians. I was for some years of the opinion that they were
of an entirely different race from those east of the muntains, and they cer-
tainly have but little similarity. The only thing that caused me to think
differently is that they have the same Moccasin game that is so common on
the Mississippi, and what is more remarkable, they accompany it by sing-
ing precisely the same tune ! The diversity of language among them is
very great. It is seldom an Indian can understand another who lives fifty
miles distant; within the limits of California are at least a hundred di-
alects, apparently entirely dissimilar. Few or no white persons have taken
any pains to learn them, as there are individuals in all the tribes which
have communication with the settlements who speak Spanish.
"The children, when caught young, are most easily domesticated, and
manifest a great aptitude to learn whatever is taught them; when taken
into Spanish families, and treated with kindness, in a few months they
learn the language and habits of their masters. When they come to ma-
turity they show no disposition to return to the savage state. The mind
of the wild Indian, of whatever age, appears to be a tabula rasa, on which
no impressions, except those of a mere animal nature, have been made,
and ready to receive any impress whatever. I remember a remark of
yours some years ago, that 'Indians were only grown-up children.' Here
we have a real race of infants. In many recent instances when a family of
white people have taken a farm in the vicinity of an Indian village, in a
short time they would have the whole tribe for willing serfs. They sub-
mit to flagellation with more humility than the negroes. Nothing more is
necessary for their complete subjugation but kindness in the beginning,
and a little well-timed severity when deserved. It is common for the
white man to ask the Indian, when the latter has committed any fault,
how many lashes he thinks he deserves. The Indian, with a simplicity and
humility almost inconceivable, replies ten or twenty, according to his opin-
ion of the magnitude of the offense. The white man then orders another
Indian to inflict the punishment, which is received without the least sign
of resentment or discontent. This I have myself witnessed or I could
hardly have believed it.
"I fear the unexpected length of this desultory epistle will be tedious
to you, but I hope it will serve at least to diversify your correspondence.
If I can afford you any information, or be serviceable to you in any way,
I beg you to command me. Any communication to me can be sent through
the American Minister at Mexico, or the Commanding Officer of the
Squadron of the Pacific, directed to the care of T. O. Larkin, Esq., Amer-
ican Consul at Monterey. I am, sir, very respectfully,
"Your obedient servant,
"Hon. Lewis Cass." "John Marsh.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 61
THE AMERICAN CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA
The Mexican War marked the beginning by the United States of terri-
torial expansion by conquest.
After the adoption of liberal colonization laws by the Mexican gov-
ernment in 1824, there set in a steady drift of Americans to California.
At first they came by sea, but after the opening of the overland route in
1841, they came in great numbers by land. It was a settled conviction in
the minds of these adventurous nomads that the manifest destiny of Cali-
fornia was to become a part of the United States, and they were only too
willing to aid destiny when an opportunity offered. The opportunity came
and it found them ready for it.
Capt. John C. Fremont, an engineer and explorer in the service of
the United States, appeared at Monterey in January, 1846, and applied
to General Castro, the military comandante, for permission to buy sup-
plies for his party of sixty-two men, who were encamped in the San Joa-
quin Valley, in what is now Kern County. Permission was given him.
There seems to have been a tacit agreement between Castro and Fremont
that the exploring party should not enter the settlements, but early in
March the whole force was encamped in the Salinas Valley.
Castro regarded the marching of a body of armed men through the
country as an act of hostility, and ordered them out of the country. In-
stead of leaving, Fremont intrenched himself on an eminence known as
Gabilan Peak, raised the Stars and Stripes over his barricade, and defied
Castro. Castro maneuvered his troops on the plain below, but did not
attack Fremont. After two days' waiting Fremont abandoned his posi-
tion and began his march northward. On May 9, when near the Oregon
line, he was overtaken by Lieutenant Gillespie, of the United States navy,
with a dispatch from the President. Gillespie had left the United States
in November, 1845, and, disguised, had crossed Mexico from Vera Cruz
to Mazatlan, and from there had reached Monterey. The exact nature
of the dispatches to Fremont is not known, but presumably they related to
the impending war between Mexico and the United States, and the neces-
sity for a prompt seizure of the country to prevent it from falling into the
hands of England. Fremont returned to the Sacramento, where he
encamped.
The Bear Flag Republic
On the 14th of June, 1846, a body of American settlers from the
Napa and Sacramento valleys, thirty-three in number, of which Ide, Sem-
ple, Grigsby and Merritt seem to have been the leaders, after a night's
march, took possession of the old castillo or fort at Sonoma, with its rusty
muskets and unused cannon, and made Gen. M. G. Vallejo, Lieut.-Colonel
Prudon, Capt. Salvador Vallejo and Jacob P. Leese, a brother-in-law of
the Vallejos, prisoners. There seem to have been no privates at the Cas-
tillo, all officers. Exactly what was the object of the American settlers
in taking General Vallejo prisoner is not evident. General Vallejo was
62 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
one of the few eminent Californians who favored the annexation of Cali-
fornia to the United States. He is said to have made a speech favoring
such a movement in the junta at Monterey a few months before. Castro
regarded him with suspicion. The prisoners were sent under an armed
escort to Fremont's camp. William B. Ide was elected captain of the
revolutionists who remained at Sonoma, to "hold the fort." He issued a
pronunciamiento in which he declared California a free and independent
government, under the name of the California Republic. A nation must
have a flag of its own, so one was improvised. It was made of a piece
of cotton cloth, or manta, a yard wide and five feet long. Strips of red
flannel torn from the shirt of one of the men were stitched on the bottom
of the flag for stripes. With a blacking brush, or, as another authority
says, the end of a chewed stick for a brush, and red paint, William L.
Todd painted the figure of a grizzly bear passant on the field of the flag.
The natives called Todd's bear "cochino," a pig; it resembled that animal
more than a bear. A five-pointed star in the left upper corner, painted
with the same coloring matter, and the words "California Republic"
printed on it in ink, completed the famous Bear Flag.
Under the Stars and Stripes
The California Republic was ushered into existence June 14, 1846,
attained the acme of its power July 4, when Ide and his fellow patriots
burnt a quantity of powder in salutes, and fired off oratorical pyrotechnics
in honor of the new republic. It utterly collapsed on the 9th day of July,
after an existence of twenty-five days, when news reached Sonoma that
Commodore Sloat had raised the stars and stripes at Monterey and taken
possession of California in the name of the United States. Lieutenant
Revere arrived at Sonoma on the 9th, and he it was who lowered the
Bear Flag from the Mexican flagstaff, where it had floated through the
brief existence of the California Republic, and raised in its place the
banner of the United States.
Commodore Sloat, who had anchored in Monterey Bay July 2, 1846,
was for a brief time undecided whether to take possession of the country.
He had no official information that war had been declared between the
United States and Mexico; but, acting on the supposition that Captain
Fremont had received definite instructions, on the 7th of July he raised
the flag and took possession of the custom-house and government build-
ings at Monterey. Captain Montgomery, on the 9th, raised it at San
Francisco, and on the same day the Bear Flag gave place to the stars and
stripes at Sonoma.
General Castro was holding Santa Clara and San Jose when he re-
ceived Commodore Sloat's proclamation informing him that the commo-
dore had taken possession of Monterey. Castro, after reading the procla-
mation, which was written in Spanish, formed his men in line and, address-
ing them, said: "Monterey is taken by the Americans. What can I do
with a handful of men against the United States? I am going to Mexico.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 63
All of you who wish to follow me, 'About face!' All that wish to remain
can go to their homes." A very small part of his force followed him.
Commodore Sloat was superseded by Commodore Stockton, who set
about organizing an expedition to subjugate the part of the territory
which still remained loyal to Mexico. Fremont's exploring party, re-
cruited to a battalion of 120 men, had marched to Monterey, and from
there was sent by vessel to San Diego to procure horses and prepare to act
as cavalry.
While these stirring events were transpiring in the north, Pio Pico had
entered upon the duties of the governorship with a desire to bring peace
and harmony to the distracted country. He appointed Juan Bandini, one
of the ablest statesmen of the south, his secretary. After Bandini re-
signed, he chose J. M. Covarrubias; and later Jose M. Moreno filled the
office efficiently.
The principal offices of the territory had been divided equally between
the politicians of the north and the south. While Los Angeles became the
capital, and the departmental assembly met there, the military headquar-
ters, the archives and the treasury remained at Monterey. But, notwith-
standing this division of the spoils of office, the old feud between the arri-
benos and the abajenos would not down, and soon the old-time quarrel
was on with all its bitterness. Castro, as military comandante, ignored
the governor, and Alvarado was regarded by the surenos as an emissary
of Castro's. The departmental assembly met at Los Angeles, in March,
1846. Pico presided, and in his opening message set forth the unfortunate
condition of affairs in the department. Education was neglected; justice
was not administered; the missions were so burdened by debt that but few
of them could be rented; the army was disorganized, and the treasury
was empty.
On the 16th of June, Pico left Los Angeles for Monterey with a mili-
tary force of a hundred men. The object of the expedition was to oppose,
and, if possible, to depose Castro. To enlist the sympathy and more
ready adhesion of the foreign element of Los Angeles, Pico issued the
following circular. (A copy, probably the only one in existence, was do-
nated some years since to the Historical Society of Southern California.)
[Seal of] "Gobierno del Dep. de Californias.
"Circular. — As, owing to the unfortunate condition of things that now
prevails in this department in consequence of the war into which the
United States has provoked the Mexican nation, some ill feeling might
spring up between the citizens of the two countries, out of which unfortu-
nate occurrences might grow, and as this government desires to remove
every cause of friction, it has seen fit, in the use of its power, to issue the
present circular.
"The Government of the department of California declares in the
most solemn manner that all the citizens of the United States that have
come lawfully into its territory, relying upon the honest administration of
the laws and the observance of the prevailing treaties, shall not be mo-
64 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
lested in the least, and their lives and property shall remain in perfect
safety under the protection of the Mexican laws and authorities legally
constituted.
"Therefore, in the name of the supreme government of the nation,
and by virtue of the authority vested upon me, I enjoin upon all the in-
habitants of California to observe towards the citizens of the United States
that have lawfully come among us, the kindest and most cordial conduct,
and to abstain from all acts of violence against their persons or property;
provided they remain neutral, as heretofore, and take no part in the in-
vasion effected by the armies of their nation.
"The authorities of the various municipalities and corporations will be
held strictly responsible for the faithful fulfilment of this order, and shall,
as soon as possible, take the necessary measures to bring it to the knowl-
edge of the people. God and Liberty. Pio Pico.
"Jose Matias Moreno, Secretary pro tern.
"Angeles, July 27, 1846."
When we consider the conditions existing in California at the time
this circular was issued, its sentiments reflect great credit on Pico for his
humanity and forbearance. A little over a month before, a party of
Americans seized General Vallejo and several other prominent Califor-
nians in their homes and incarcerated them in prison at Sutter's Fort. Nor
was this outrage mitigated when the stars and stripes were raised. The
perpetrators of the outrage were not punished. These native Califor-
nians were kept in prison nearly two months without any charge against
them. Besides, Governor Pico and the leading Californians very well
knew that the Americans whose lives and property this proclamation was
designed to protect would not remain neutral when their countrymen in-
vaded the territory. Pio Pico deserved better treatment from the Amer-
icans than he received. He was robbed of his landed possessions by un-
scrupulous land sharks, and his character was defamed by irresponsible
historical scribblers.
Pico and Castro left Los Angeles on the night of August 10, for
Mexico, Castro going by the Colorado River route to Sonora. Pico, after
being concealed for a time by his brother-in-law, Juan Foster, at the Santa
Margarita and narrowly escaping capture by Fremont's men, finally
reached Lower California and later on crossed the Gulf to Sonora.
Stockton began his march on Los Angeles August 11. He took with
him a battery of four guns, mounted on carretas, each gun drawn by four
oxen. He had with him a good brass band.
Major Fremont, who had been sent to San Diego with his battalion of
170 men, had, after considerable skirmishing among the ranchos, secured
enough horses to move, and on the 8th of August had begun his march to
join Stockton. He took with him 120 men, leaving about fifty to garrison
San Diego.
Stockton consumed three days on the march. Fremont's troops joined
him just south of the city, and at 4 p. m. of the 13th the combined
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 65
force, numbering nearly 500 men, entered the town without opposition;
"our entry," says Major Fremont, "having more the effect of a parade of
home guards than of an enemy taking possession of a conquered town."
Squads of Fremont's battalion were sent out to scour the country and
bring in any of the California officers or leading men whom they could
find. These, when found, were paroled.
On the 17th of August, Stockton issued a second proclamation, in
which he signed himself commander-in-chief and governor of the territory
of California. It was milder in tone and more dignified than the first.
He informed the people that their country now belonged to the United
States. For the present it would be governed by martial law. They
were invited to elect their local officers if those now in office refused to
serve under the new order.
Four days after the capture of Los Angeles, the Warren, Captain
Hull, commander, anchored at San Pedro. She brought official notice of
the declaration of war between the United States and Mexico. Then for
the first time Stockton learned that there had been an official declaration
of war between the two countries. United States officers had waged war
and had taken possession of California upon the strength of a rumor that
hostilities existed between the countries.
The conquest, if conquest it can be called, was accomplished without
the loss of a life, if we except the two Americans, Fowler and Cowie, of
the Bear Flag party, who were brutally murdered by a band of Califor-
nians under Padillo, and the equally brutal shooting of Berryessa and the
two de Haro boys by the Americans at San Rafael. These three men
were shot as spies, but there was no proof that they were such, and they
were not tried. These murders occurred before Commander Sloat raised
the stars and stripes at Monterey.
On the 15th of August, 1846, just thirty-seven days after the raising
of the stars and stripes at Monterey, the first newspaper ever published
in California made its appearance. It was published at Monterey by
Semple and Colton and named The Californian. Rev. Walter Colton was
a chaplain in the United States navy and came to California on the Con-
gress with Commodore Stockton. He was made alcalde of Monterey and
built, by the labor of the chain gang, and from contributions and fines, the
first schoolhouse in California, named for him Colton Hall. Colton thus
describes the other member of the firm, Dr. Robert Semple: "My partner
is an emigrant from Kentucky, who stands six feet eight in his stockings.
He is in a buckskin dress, a foxskin cap; is true with his rifle, ready with
his pen and quick at the type case." Semple came to California in 1845,
with the Hastings party, and was one of the leaders in the Bear Flag
revolution. The type and press used were brought to California by
Augustin V. Zamorano in 1834, and by him sold to the territorial govern-
ment, and had been used for printing bandos and pronunciamentos. The
only paper the publishers of The Californian could procure was that used
in the manufacture of cigarettes, which came in sheets a little larger than
66 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
foolscap. The font of type was short of w's, so two v's were substituted
for that letter, and when these ran out two u's were used. The paper was
moved to San Francisco in 1848, and later on consolidated with The Cali-
fornia Star.
The capitulation of Gen. Andres Pico at Cahuenga put an end to the
war in California. The instructions from the secretary of war were to
pursue a policy of conciliation towards the Californians, with the ultimate
design of transforming them into American citizens. Colonel Fremont
was left in command at Los Angeles.
Mexican Laws and American Officials
Upon the departure of General Kearny, May 31, 1847, Col. Richard
B. Mason became governor and commander-in-chief of the United States
forces in California by order of the President. Stockton, Kearny and
Fremont had taken their departure, the dissensions that had existed since
the conquest of the territory among the conquerors ceased, and peace
reigned. Mexican laws were administered for the most part by military
officers. The municipal authorities were encouraged to continue in power
and perform their governmental functions, but they were indifferent and
sometimes rebelled. Under Mexican rule there was to trial by jury. The
alcalde acted as judge and in criminal cases a council of war settled the
fate of the criminal. The Rev. Walter Colton, while acting as alcalde of
Monterey, in 1846-1847, impaneled the first jury ever summoned in Cali-
fornia. "The plaintiff and defendant," he writes, "are among the prin-
cipal citizens of the country. The case was one involving property on the
one side and integrity of character on the other. Its merits had been
pretty widely discussed, and had called forth an unusual interest. One-
third of the jury were Mexicans, one-third Californians and the other
third Americans. This mixture may have the better answered the ends of
justice, but I was apprehensive at one time it would embarrass the pro-
ceedings; for the plaintiff spoke English, the defendant in French; the
jury, save the Americans, Spanish, and the witnesses, all the languages
known in California. By the tact of Mr. Hartnell, who acted as inter-
preter, and the absence of young lawyers, we got along very well."
The process of Americanizing the people was no easy undertaking.
The population of the country and its laws were in a chaotic condition.
It was an arduous task that Colonel Mason and the military commanders
at the various pueblos had to perform, that of evolving order out of the
chaos that had been brought about by the change in nations. The native
population neither understood the language nor the customs of their new
rulers, and the newcomers among the Americans had very little toleration
for the slow-going Mexican ways and methods they found prevailing. To
keep peace between the factions required more tact than knowledge of
law, military or civil, in the commanders.
Peace Established
The treaty of peace between the United States and Mexico was signed
at Guadalupe Hidalgo, a hamlet a few miles from the City of Mexico,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 67
February 2, 1848; ratifications were exchanged at Queretaro, May 30
following, and a proclamation that peace had been established between
the two countries was published July 4, 1848. Under this treaty the
United States assumed the payment of the claims of American citizens
against Mexico, and paid, in addition, $15,000,000 to Mexico for Texas,
New Mexico and Alta California. Out of what was the Mexican terri-
tory of Alta California there has been carved all of California, all of Ne-
vada, Utah' and Arizona and part of Colorado and Wyoming. The terri-
tory acquired by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was nearly equal to the
aggregated area of the thirteen original states at the time of the Revolu-
tionary War.
The news of the treaty of peace reached California August 6, 1848.
On the 7th Governor Mason issued a proclamation announcing the ratifi-
cation of the treaty. He announced that all residents of California who
wished to become citizens of the United States were absolved from their
allegiance to Mexico. Those who desired to retain their Mexican citizen-
ship could do so, provided they signified such intention within one year
from May 30, 1848.
The war was over; and the treaty of peace had made all who so
elected, native or foreign born, American citizens. Strict military rule
was relaxed and the people henceforth were to be self-governing. Ameri-
cans and Californians were one people and were to enjoy the same rights
and be subject to the same penalties. The war ended, the troops were no
longer needed, and orders were issued to muster out the volunteers.
These all belonged to Stevenson's New York regiment. The last company
of the Mormon battalion had been discharged in April. The New York
volunteers were scattered all along the coast from Sonoma to Cape San
Lucas, doing garrison duty. They were collected at different points and
mustered out. Although those stationed in Alta California had done no
fighting, they had performed arduous service in keeping peace in the con-
quered territory. Most of them remained in California after their dis-
charge and rendered a good account of themselves as citizens.
GOLD ! GOLD ! GOLD !
Sebastian Viscaino, from the bay of Monterey, writing to the King of
Spain 300 years ago, says of the Indians of California: "They are well
acquainted with gold and silver, and said that these were found in the in-
terior." Viscaino was endeavoring to make a good impression on the
mind of the king in regard to his discoveries. The traditions of the ex-
istence of gold in California before any was discovered are legion. Most
of these have been evolved since gold was actually found. Col. J. J.
Warner, a pioneer of 1831, in his "Historical Sketch of Los Angeles
County," briefly and very effectually disposes of these rumored discoveries.
He says: "While statements respecting the existence of gold in the earth
of California and its procurement therefrom have been made and pub-
lished as historical facts, carrying back the date of the knowledge of the
auriferous character of this State as far as the time of the visit of Sir
68 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Francis Drake to this coast, there is no evidence to be found in the written
or oral history of the missions, in the acts and correspondence of the civil
or military officers, or in the unwritten and traditional history of Upper
California that the existence of gold, either with ores or in its virgin state,
was ever suspected by any inhabitants of California previous to 1841;
and, furthermore, there is conclusive testimony that the first known grain
of native gold dust was found upon or near the San Francisco ranch, about
forty-five miles northwesterly from Los Angeles City, in the month of
June, 1841. This discovery consisted of grain gold fields (known as
placer mines), and the auriferous fields discovered in that year embraced
the greater part of the country drained by the Santa Clara River from a
point some fifteen or twenty miles from its mouth to its source, and east-
erly beyond Mount San Bernardino."
The story of the discovery as told by Warner and by Don Abel
Stearns agrees in the main facts, though differing materially in the date.
Stearns says gold was first discovered by Francisco Lopez, a native of
California, in the month of March, 1842, at a place called San Francis-
quito, about thirty-five miles northwest from Los Angeles. The circum-
stances of the discovery by Lopez, as related by himself, are as follows :
"Lopez, with a companion, was out in search of some stray horses, and
about midday they stopped under some trees and tied their horses out to
feed. They were resting under the shade, when Lopez, with his sheath-
knife, dug up some wild onions, and in the dirt discovered a piece of gold,
and, searching further, found some more. He brought these to town, and
showed them to his friends, who at once declared there must be a placer
of gold. This news being circulated, numbers of the citizens went to the
place, and commenced prospecting in the neighborhood, and found it to
be a fact that there was a placer of gold."
Colonel Warner says: "The news of this discovery soon spread among
the inhabitants from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles, and in a few weeks
hundreds of people were engaged in washing and winnowing the sands of
these gold fields."
Warner visited the mines a few weeks after their discovery. He
says: "From these mines was obtained the first parcel of California gold
dust received at the United States mint in Philadelphia, and which was
sent with Alfred Robinson, and went in a merchant ship around Cape
Horn." This shipment of gold was 18.34 ounces before and 18.1 ounces
after melting; fineness .925; value, $344.75, or over $19 to the ounce, a
very superior quality of gold dust. It was deposited in the mint July
8, 1843.
It may be regarded as a settled historical fact that the first authenti-
cated discovery of gold in Alta California was made on the San Fran-
cisco rancho in the San Felicano Canon, Los Angeles County. This canon
is about ten miles northwest of Newhall Station on the Southern Pacific
Railroad, and about forty miles northwest of Los Angeles.
It is impossible to obtain definite information in regard to the yield
of the San Fernando placers, as these mines are generally called. William
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 69
Heath Davis, in his "Sixty Years in California," states that from $80,000
to $100,000 was taken out for the first two years after their discovery.
He says that Melius at one time shipped $5000 of dust on the ship Alert.
Bancroft says: "By December, 1843, two thousand ounces of gold had
been taken from the San Fernando mines." Don Antonio Coronel stated
that with the assistance of three Indian laborers, in 1842, he took out
$600 worth of dust in two months. De Mofras, in his book, states that
Carlos Baric, a Frenchman, in 1842, was obtaining an ounce a day of pure
gold from his placer.
These mines were worked continuously from the time of their dis-
covery until the American conquest, Drincipally by Sonorans. The dis-
covery of gold at Coloma, January 24, 1848, drew away the miners, and
no work was done on these mines between 1848 and 1854. After the
latter dates work was resumed, and in 1855, Francisco Garcia, working a
gang of Indians, is reported to have taken out $65,000 in one season.
The mines are not exhausted, but the scarcity of water prevents working
them profitably.
It is rather a singular coincidence that the exact dates of both the first
and second authenticated discoveries of gold in California are still among
the undecided questions of history. In the first, we know the day but not
the year; in the second, we know the year but not the day of the month on
which Marshall picked up the first nuggets in the millrace at Coloma.
For a number of years after the anniversary of Marshall's discovery be-
gan to be observed, the 19th of January was celebrated. Of late years
January 24th has been fixed upon as the correct date; but the Associated
Pioneers of the Territorial Days of California, an association made up
of men who were in the territory at the time of Marshall's discovery or
came here before it became a State, object to the change. For nearly
thirty years they have held their annual dinners on January 18, "the anni-
versary of the discovery of gold at Sutter's sawmill, Coloma, Cal." This
society has its headquarters in New York City. In a circular recently
issued, disapproving of the change of date from the 18th to the 24th, the
trustees of that society say: "Upon the organization of this society, Feb-
ruary 11, 1875, it was decided to hold its annual dinners on the anniver-
sary of the discovery of gold at Sutter's sawmill, Coloma, Cal. Through
the Hon. Newton Booth, of the United States Senate, this information
was sought, with the result of a communication from the secretary of the
State of California to the effect that the archives of the State of Califor-
nia recorded the date as of January 18, 1848. Some years ago this date
was changed by the society at San Francisco to that of January 24, and
that date has been adopted by other similar societies located upon the
Pacific and Atlantic coasts. This society took the matter under advise-
ment with the result that the new evidence upon which it was proposed to
change the date was not deemed sufficient to justify this society in ignoring
its past records, founded on the authority of the State of California;
therefore it has never accepted the new date."
70 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Marshall himself was uncertain about the exact date. At various
times he gave three different dates, the 18th, 19th, and 20th, but never
moved it along as far as the 24th. In the past thirty years three different
dates, the 18th, 19th and 24th of January have been celebrated as the
anniversary of Marshall's discovery.
The evidence upon which the date was changed to the 24th is found
in an entry in a diary kept by H. W. Bigler, a Mormon, who was working
for Marshall on the millrace at the time gold was discovered. The en-
try reads: "January 24. This day some kind of metal that looks like
gold was found in the tailrace." On this authority about ten years ago
the California Pioneers adopted the 24th as the correct date of discovery.
While written records, especially if made at the time of the occurrence
of the event, are more reliable than oral testimony given long after, yet
when we take into consideration the conflicting stories of Sutter, Marshall,
the Winners and others who were immediately concerned in some way
with the discovery, we must concede that the Territorial Pioneers have
good reasons to hesitate about making a change in the date of their anni-
versary. In Dr. Trywhitt Brooks' "Four Months Among the Gold Find-
ers," a book published in London in 1849, and long since out of print, we
have Sutter's version of Marshall's discovery given only three months
after that discovery was made. Dr. Brooks visited Sutter's Fort early in
May, 1848, and received from Sutter himself the story of the find. Sutter
stated that he was sitting in his room at the fort, one afternoon, when
Marshall, whom he supposed to be at the mill, forty miles up the Amer-
ican River, suddenly burst in upon him. Marshall was so wildly excited
that Sutter, suspecting that he was crazy, looked to see whether his rifle
was in reach. Marshall declared that he had made a discovery that
would give them both millions and millions of dollars. Then he drew
his sack and poured out a handful of nuggets on the table. Sutter, when
he had tested the metal and found that it was gold, became almost as ex-
cited as Marshall. He eagerly asked if the workmen at the mill knew of
the discovery. Marshall declared that he had not spoken to a single per-
son about it. They both agreed to keep it a secret. Next day Sutter and
Marshall arrived at the sawmill. The day after their arrival, they pros-
pected the bars of the river and the channels of some of the dry creeks
and found gold in all.
"On our return to the mill," says Sutter, "we were astonished by the
work-people coming up to us in a body and showing us some flakes of
gold similar to those we had ourselves procured. Marshall tried to
laugh the matter off with them, and to persuade them that what they had
found was only some shining mineral of trifling value; but one of the
Indians, who had worked at a gold mine in the neighborhood of La Paz,
Lower California, cried out: 'Oro! Oro' ('Gold! Gold!'), and the secret
was out."
Captain Sutter continues: "I heard afterward that one of them, a sly
Kentuckian, had dogged us about and that, looking on the ground to see
what we were in search of, he lighted on some of the flakes himself."
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 71
If this account is correct, Bigler's entry in his diary was made on the
day that the workmen found gold, which was five or six days after Mar-
shall's first find, and consequently the 24th is that much too late for the
true date of the discovery. The story of the discovery given in the "Life
and Adventures of James W. Marshall," by George Frederick Parsons,
differs materially from Sutter's account. The date of the discovery given
in that book is January 19, 1848. Op the morning of that day Marshall,
after shutting off the water, walked down the tailrace to see what sand
and gravel had been removed during the night. (The water was turned
into the tailrace during the night to cut it deeper.) While examining a
mass of debris, "his eye caught the glitter of something that lay lodged
in a crevice on a riffle of soft granite some six inches under water." Pick-
ing up the nugget and examining it, he became satisfied that it must be
one of three substances — mica, sulphurets of copper, or gold. Its weight
satisfied him that it was not mica. Knowing that gold was malleable, he
placed the specimen on a flat rock and struck it with another; it bent, but
did not crack or break. He was satisfied that it was gold. He showed
the nugget to his men. In the course of a few days he had collected
several ounces of precious metal. Some four days after the discovery it
became necessary for him to go below, for Sutter had failed to send a
supply of provisions to the mill, and the men were on short commons.
While on his way down he discovered gold in a ravine at a place after-
wards known as Mormon Island. Arrived at the fort, he interviewed
Sutter in his private office and showed him about three ounces of gold
nuggets. Sutter did not believe it to be gold, but after weighing it in scales
against $3.25 worth of silver, all the coin they could raise at the fort,
and testing it with nitric acid obtained from the gun shop, Sutter became
convinced and returned to the mill with Marshall. So little did the work-
men at the mill value the discovery that they continued to work for
Sutter until the mill was completed, March 11, six weeks after the nuggets
were found in the tailrace.
The news of the discovery spread slowly. It was two months in
reaching San Francisco, although the distance is not over 125 miles. The
great rush to the mines from San Francisco did not begin until the middle
of May, nearly four months after the discovery. On the 10th of May,
Dr. Brooks, who was in San Francisco, writes: "A number of people have
actually started off with shovels, mattocks and pans to dig the gold them-
selves. It is not likely, however, that this will, be allowed, for Captain
Folsom has already written to Colonel Mason about taking possession of
the mine on behalf of the government, it being, he says, on public land."
As the people began to realize the richness and extent of the dis-
covery, the excitement increased rapidly. May 17, Dr. Brooks writes:
"This place (San Francisco) is now in a perfect furore of excitement; all
the workpeople have struck. Walking through the town today, I observed
that laborers were employed only upon about half a dozen of the fifty
new buildings which were in course of being run up. The majority of
the mechanics at this place are making preparations for moving off to the
72 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
mines, and several people of all classes — lawyers, storekeepers, mer-
chants, etc., are smitten with the fever; in fact, there is a regular gold
mania springing up. I counted no less than eighteen houses which were
closed, the owners having left. If Colonel Mason is moving a force to
the American Fork, as is reported here, their journey will be in vain."
Colonel Mason's soldiers moved without orders — they nearly all de-
serted, and ran off to the mines.
The first newspaper announcement of the discovery appeared in The
Californian of March 15, 1848, nearly two months after the discovery.
But little attention was paid to it. In the issue of April 19, another dis-
covery is reported. The item reads: "New gold mine. It is stated that a
new gold mine has been discovered on the American Fork of the Sacra-
mento, supposed to be on the land of W. A. Leidesdorff, of this place. A
specimen of the gold has been exhibited, and is represented to be very
pure." On the 29th of May The Californian had suspended publication.
"Othello's occupation is gone," wails the editor. "The majority of our
subscribers and many of our advertising patrons have closed their door's
and places of business and left town, and we have received one order af-
ter another conveying the pleasant request that the printer will please
stop my paper or my ad, as I am about leaving for Sacramento."
The editor of the other paper, The California Star, made a pilgrim-
age to the mines in the latter part of April, but gave them no extended
write-up. "Great country, fine climate," he wrote on his return. "Full
flowing streams, mighty timber, large crops, luxuriant clover, fragrant
flowers, gold and silver," were his comments on what he saw. The policy
of both papers seems to have been to ignore as much as possible the gold
discovery. To give it publicity was for a time, at least, to lose their oc-
cupation.
In The Star of May 20, 1848, its eccentric editor, E. C. Kemble, un-
der the caption "El Dorado Anew," discourses in a dubious manner upon
the effects of the discovery and the extent of the gold fields :
"A terrible visitant we have had of late. A fever which has well-nigh
depopulated a town, a town hard pressing upon a thousand souls, and but
for the gracious interposition of the elements, perhaps not a goose would
have been spared to furnish a quill to pen the melancholy fate of the re-
mainder. It has preyed upon defenseless old age, subdued the elasticity
of careless youth and attacked indiscriminately sex and class, from town
councilman to tow-frocked cartman, from tailor to tippler, of which,
thank its pestilential powers, it has beneficially drained (of tipplers, we
mean) every villainous pulperia in the place.
"And this is the gold fever, the only form of that popular southerner,
yellow jack, with which we can be alarmingly threatened. The insatiate
maw of the monster, not appeased by the easy conquest of the rough-fist-
ed yeomanry of the north, must needs ravage a healthy, prosperous place
beyond his dominion and turn the town topsy-turvy in a twinkling.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 73
"A fleet of launches left this place on Sunday and Monday last bound
up the Sacramento River, close stowed with human beings, led by love of
filthy lucre to the perennial yielding gold mines of the north. When any
man can find two ounces a day and two thousand men can find their hands
full, was there ever anything so superlatively silly?
"Honestly, though, we are inclined to believe the reputed wealth of
that section of the country, thirty miles in extent, all sham, as superb a
take-in as was ever got up to guzzle the gullible. But it is not improbable
that this mine, or, properly, placer of gold can be traced as far south as
the city of Los Angeles, where the precious metal has been found for a
number of years in the bed of a stream issuing from its mountains, said
to be a continuation of this gold chain which courses southward from the
base of the snowy mountains. But our best information respecting the
metal and the quantity in which it is gathered varies much from many
reports current, yet it is beyond a question that no richer mines of gold
have ever been discovered upon this continent.
"Should there be no paper forthcoming on Saturday next, our readers
may assure themselves it will not be the fault of us individually. To
make the matter public, already our devil has rebelled, our pressman
(poor fellow) last seen was in search of a pickax, and we feel like Mr.
Hamlet, we shall never again look upon the likes of him. Then, too,
our compositors have, in defiance, sworn terrible oaths against type-stick-
ing as vulgar and unfashionable. Hope has not yet fled us, but really, in
the phraseology of the day, 'things is getting curious.' "
And things kept getting more and more curious. The rush increased.
The next issue of The Star (May 27) announces that "the Sacramento,
a first-class craft, left here Thursday last thronged with passengers for
the gold mines, a motly assemblage, composed of lawyers, merchants,
grocers, carpenters, cartmen and cooks, all possessed with the desire of
becoming rich. The latest accounts from the gold country are highly
flattering. Over three hundred men are engaged in washing gold, and
numbers are continually arriving from every part of the country." Then
the editor closes with a wail: "Persons recently arrived from the country
speak of ranches deserted and crops neglected and suffered to waste.
The unhappy consequence of this state of affairs is easily foreseen." One
more twinkle, and The Star disappeared in the gloom. On June 14 ap-
peared a single sheet, the size of foolscap. The editor announced: "In
lewer words than are usually employed in the announcement of similar
events, we appear before the remnant of a reading community on this
occasion with the material or immaterial information that we have
stopped the paper, that its publication ceased with the last regular issue
(June 7). On the approach of autumn, we shall again appear to announce
The Star's redivivus. We have done. Let our parting word be hasta luego."
Star and Californian reappeared November 14, 1848. The Star had ab-
sorbed The Californian. E. C. Kemble was its editor and proprietor.
74 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Although there was no paper in existence on the coast to spread the
news from the gold fields, it found its way out of California, and the rush
from abroad began. It did not acquire great force in 1848, but in 1849
the immigration to California exceeded all previous migrations in the
history of the race.
Among the first foreigners to rush to the mines were the Mexicans
of Sonora. Many of these had had some experience in placer mining in
their native country, and the report of rich placers in California, where
gold could be had for the picking up, aroused them from their lazy self-
content and stimulated them to go in search of it. Traveling in squads of
from fifty to one hundred, they came by the old Auza trail across the
Colorado desert, through the San Gorgonio Pass, then up the coast and
on to the mines. They were a job lot of immigrants, poor in purse and
poor in brain. They were despised by the native Californians and mal-
treated by the Americans. Their knowledge of mining came in play, and
the more provident among them soon managed to pick up a few thousand
dollars, and then returned to their homes, plutocrats. The improvident
gambled away their earnings and remained in the country to add to its
criminal element. The Oregonians came in force, and all the towns in
California were almost depopulated of their male population. By the
close of 1848, there were 10,000 men at work in the mines.
The first official report of the discovery was sent to Washington by
Thomas O. Larkin, June 1, and reached its destination about the middle
of September. Lieutenant Beale, by way of Mexico, brought dispatches
dated a month later, which arrived about the same time as Larkin's re-
port. These accounts were published in the Eastern papers, and the ex-
citement began.
In the early part of December, Lieutenant Loeser arrived at Washing-
ton with Governor Mason's report of his observations in the mines made
in August. But the most positive evidence was a tea caddy of gold dust,
containing about 230 ounces, that Governor Mason had caused to be
purchased in the mines with money from the civil service fund. This the
lieutenant had brought with him. It was placed on exhibition at the war
office. Here was tangible evidence of the existence of gold in California,
the doubters were silenced, and the excitement was on and the rush began.
By the first of January, 1849, vessels were fitting out in every seaport
on the Atlantic coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Sixty ships were announced
to sail from New York in February and seventy from Philadelphia and
Boston. All kinds of craft were pressed into the service, some to go by
way of Cape Horn, others to land their passengers at Vera Cruz, Nica-
ragua and Panama, the voyagers to take their chances on the Pacific side
for a passage on some unknown vessel.
With the opening of spring, the overland travel began. Forty thou-
sand men gathered at different points on the Missouri River, but principally
at St. Joseph and Independence. Horses, mules, oxen and cows were used
for the propelling power of the various forms of vehicles that were to
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 75
convey the provisions and other impedimenta of the army of gold seekers.
By the first of May the grass was grown enough on the plains to furnish
feed for the stock, and the vanguard of the grand army of gold hunters
started. For two months, company after company left the rendezvous and
joined the procession until for 1000 miles there was an almost unbroken
line of wagons and pack trains. The first half of the journey was made
with little inconvenience, but on the last part there were great suffering and
loss of life. The cholera broke out among them, and it is estimated that
5000 died on the plains. The alkali desert of the Humboldt was the
place where the immigrants suffered most. Exhausted by the long journey
and weakened by lack of food, many succumbed under the hardship of the
desert journey and died. The crossing of the Sierras was attended with
great hardships. From the loss of their horses and oxen, many were com-
pelled to cross the mountains on foot. Their provisions exhausted, they
would have perished but for relief sent out from California. The greatest
sufferers were the women and children, who in considerable numbers made
the perilous journey.
The overland immigration of 1850 exceeded that of 1849. Accord-
ing to the record kept at Fort Laramie, there passed that station during
the season 39,000 men, 2500 women, and 600 children, making a total
of 42,100. These immigrants had with them, when passing Fort Laramie,
23,000 horses, 8000 mules, 3600 oxen, 7000 cows, and 9000 wagons.
Besides those coming by the northern route, that is, by the South Pass
and the Humboldt River, at least 10,000 found their way to the land of
gold by the old Spanish trail, by the Gila route, and by Texas, Coahuila
and Chihuahua into Arizona, and thence across the Colorado desert to
Los Angeles, and from there by the coast route or the San Joaquin valley
to the mines.
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company had been organized before the
discovery of gold in California. March 3, 1847, an act of Congress was
passed authorizing the secretary of the navy to advertise for bids to carry
the United States mails by one line of steamers between New York and
Chagres, and by another line between Panama and Astoria, Ore. On the
Atlantic side the contract called for five ships of 1500 tons burden; on the
Pacific side, two of 1000 tons each, and one of 600 tons. These were
deemed sufficient for the trade and travel between the Atlantic and Pa-
cific coasts of the United States. The Pacific Mail Steamship Company
was incorporated April 12, 1848, with a capital stock of $500,000. Oc-
tober 6, 1848, the California, the first steamer for the Pacific, sailed from
New York, and was followed in the two succeeding months by the Oregon
and the Panama. The California sailed before the news of the gold dis-
covery had reached New York, and she had taken no passengers. When
she arrived at Panama, January 30, 1849, she encountered a rush of 1500
gold hunters, clamorous for a passage. These had reached Chagres on
sailing vessels, ascended the Chagres River in bongos or dugouts to Gor-
gona, and traveled thence by land to Panama. The California had ac-
76 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
commodations for only 100, but 400 managed to find some place to
stow themselves away. The price of tickets rose to a fabulous sum, as high
as $1000 having been paid for a steerage passage. The California en-
tered the Bay of San Francisco February 28, 1849, and was greeted by
the boom of cannon and the cheers of thousands of people lining the
shores of the bay. The other two steamers arrived on time, and the Pa-
cific Mail Steamship Company became the predominant factor in Cali-
fornia travel for twenty years, or up to the completion of the first trans-
continental railroad in 1869. The charges for fare on these steamers in
the early fifties were prohibitory to men of small means. From New York
to Chagres in the saloon the fare was $150; in the cabin, $120. From
Panama to San Francisco in the saloon, $250; cabin, $200. Add to these
the expense of crossing the isthmus, and the Argonaut was out a goodly
sum when he reached the land of the golden fleece; indeed, he was often
fleeced of his last dollar before he entered the Golden Gate.
The first effect of the gold discovery on San Francisco, as we have
seen, was to depopulate it, and of necessity suspend all building opera-
tions. In less than three months the reaction began, and the city expe-
rienced one of the most magical booms in history. Real estate doubled in
some instances in twenty-four hours. The Californian of September 3,
1848, says: "The vacant lot on the corner of Montgomery and Washing-
ton Streets was offered the day previous for $5000 and the next day sold
readily for $10,000." Lumber went up in value until it was sold at a
dollar per square foot. Wages kept pace with the general advance. Six-
teen dollars a day was a mechanic's wages, and the labor market was not
overstocked even at these high rates. With the approach of winter, the
gold seekers came flocking to the city to find shelter and to spend their
suddenly acquired wealth. The latter was easily accomplished, but the
former was more difficult. Any kind of a shelter that would keep out the
rain was utilized for a dwelling. Rows of tents that circled around the
business portion, shanties patched together from pieces of packing boxes,
and sheds thatched with brush from the chaparral-covered hills constituted
the principal dwellings at that time of the future metropolis of Califor-
nia. The yield of the mines for 1848 has been estimated at $10,000,000.
This was the result of only a few months' labor of not to exceed at any
time 10,000 men. The rush of miners did not reach the mines until Julv,
and mining operations were mainly suspended by the middle of October.
New discoveries had followed in quick succession Marshall's find at
Coloma until, by the close of 1848, gold placers had been located on all
the principal tributaries of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. Some
of the richest yields were obtained from what was known as "dry diggins."
These were dry ravines from which pay dirt had to be packed to water for
washing or the gold separated by dry washing, tossing the earth into the
air until it was blown away by the wind, the gold, on account of its weight,
remaining in the pan.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 77
A correspondent of the Calif ornian, writing August 15, 1848, from
what he designates as "Dry Diggins," gives this account of the richness
of that gold field: "At the lower mines (Mormon Island) the miners
count the success of the day in dollars; at the upper mines near the mill
(Coloma), in ounces; and here, in pounds. The only instrument used at
first was a butcher knife, and the demand for that article was so great
that $40 has been refused for one.
"The earth is taken out of the ravines which make out of the moun-
tains and is carried in wagons or packed on horses from one to three miles
to water and washed. Four hundred dollars is the average to the cart
load. In one instance five loads yielded $16,000. Instances are known
where men have carried the earth on their backs and collected from
$800 to $1500 a day." .
The rapidity with which the country was explored by prospectors was
truly remarkable. The editor of the Californian, who had suspended the
publication of his paper on May 29 to visit the mines, returned and re-
sumed it on July 15 (1848). In an editorial in that issue he gives his ob-
servations: "The country from the Ajuba (Yuba) to the San Joaquin
Rivers, a distance of one hundred twenty miles, and from the base toward
the summit of the mountains as far as Snow Hill, about seventy miles, has
been explored, and gold found in every part. There are probably three
thousand men, including Indians, engaged in collecting gold. The amount
collected by each man who works ranges from $10 to $350 per day. The
publisher of this paper, while on a tour alone to the mining district, col-
lected, with the aid of a shovel, pick and pan, from $44 to $128 a day,
averaging about $100. The largest piece of gold known to be found
weighed four pounds." Among other remarkable yields the Californian
reports these: "One man dug $12,000 in six days, and three others ob-
tained thirty-six pounds of pure metal in one day."
MAKING A STATE
Col. R. B. Mason, who had been the military governor of California
since the departure of General Kearny in May, 1847, had grown weary of
his task. He had been in the military service of his country thirty years,
and wished to be relieved. His request was granted, and on the 12th of
April, 1849, Brevet Brigadier General Bennett Riley, his successor, ar-
rived at Monterey and the next day entered upon his duties as civil gov-
ernor. Gen. Persifer F. Smith, who had been appointed commander of
the Pacific division of the United States army, arrived at San Francisco
February 26, 1849, and relieved Colonel Mason of his military command.
A brigade of troops 650 strong had been sent to California for military
service on the border and to maintain order. Most of these promptly de-
serted as soon as opportunity offered, and found their way to the mines.
A year had passed since the treaty of peace with Mexico had been
signed, which made California United States territory; but Congress had
done nothing toward giving it a government. The people were becoming
78 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
restive at the long delay. The Americanized Mexican laws and forms of
government were unpopular, and it was humiliating to the conqueror to
be governed by the laws of the people conquered. The question of calling
a convention to form a provisional government was agitated by the news-
papers and met a hearty response from the people. Meetings were held
at San Jose, December 11, 1848; at San Francisco, December 21, and at
Sacramento, January 6, 1849, to consider the question of establishing a
provisional government. It was recommended by the San Jose meeting
that a convention be held at that place on the second Monday of January.
The San Francisco convention recommended the 5th of March; this the
Monterey committee considered too early, as it would take the delegates
from below fifteen days to reach the pueblo of San Jose. There was no
regular mail and the roads in February (when the delegates would have
to start) were impassable. The committee recommended May 1 as the
earliest date for the meeting to consider the question of calling a con-
vention. Sonoma, without waiting, took the initiative and elected ten
delegates to a provisional government convention. There was no unanimity
in regard to the time of meeting or as to what could be done if the con-
vention met. It was finally agreed to postpone the time of meeting to the
first Monday of August, when, if Congress had done nothing towards
giving California some form of government better than that existing, the
convention should meet and organize a provisional government.
The confusion constantly arising from the attempt to carry on a gov-
ernment that was semi-military and semi-Mexican induced Governor Riley
to order an election to be held August 1, to elect delegates to a conven-
tion to meet in Monterey September 1, 1849, to form a State constitution
or Territorial organization to be ratified by the people and submitted to
Congress for its approval. Judges, prefects and alcaldes were to be
elected at the same time in the principal municipal districts. The constitu-
tional convention was to consist of thirty-seven delegates. Instead of
thirty-seven delegates, as called for, forty-eight were elected and seated'.
Of the forty-eight delegates elected twenty-two were natives of the
Northern States; fifteen of the Slave States; four were of foreign birth,
and seven were native Californians. Several of the latter neither spoke
nor understood the English language and William E. P. Hartnell was
appointed interpreter. Dr. Robert Semple, of Bear Flag fame, was elected
president; William G. Marcy and J. Ross Browne, reporters.
Early in the session the slavery question was disposed of by the adop-
tion of a section declaring that neither slavery or involuntary servitude,
unless for the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this State.
The question of fixing the boundaries of the future State excited the most
discussion. The present boundaries were established by a majority of two.
A committee had been appointed to receive propositions and designs
for a State seal. Only one design was offered. It was presented by Caleb
Lyon of Lyondale, as he usually signed his name, but was drawn by Major
Robert S. Garnett, an army officer. It contained a figure of Minerva in
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 79
the foreground, a grizzly bear feeding on a bunch of grapes; a miner with
an uplifted pick; a gold rocker and a pan; a view of the Golden Gate with
ships riding at anchor in the Bay of San Francisco; the peaks of the Sierra
Nevadas in the distance; a sheaf of wheat; thirty-one stars; and above all,
the word "Eureka" (I have found it), which might apply either to the
miner or the bear. The design seems to have been an attempt to adver-
tise the resources of the State. General Vallejo wanted the bear taken
out of the design, or if allowed to remain, that he be made fast by a lasso
in the hands of a vaquero. This amendment was rejected, as was also one
submitted by O. M. Wozencraft to strike out the figures of the gold dig-
ger and the bear and introduce instead bales of merchandise and bags of
gold. The original design was adopted with the addition of the words,
"The Great Seal of the State of California." The convention voted to
give Lyon $1000 as full compensation for engraving the seal and furnish-
ing the press and all appendages.
The constitution was completed on the 1 1th of October and an election
was called by Governor Riley to be held on the 13th of November to vote
upon the adoption of the constitution and to elect State officers, a legis-
lature and members of Congress.
At the election Peter H. Burnett, who had been quite active in urging
the organization of a State government, was chosen Governor; John Mc-
Dougall, lieutenant governor; and George W. Wright and Edward Gilbert,
Members of Congress. San Jose had been designated by the constitutional
convention the capital of the State pro tern.
The people of San Jose had pledged themselves to provide a suitable
building for the meeting of the legislature, in the hope that their town
might be made the permanent capital. They were unable to complete the
building designed for a State capital in time for the meeting. The un-
comfortable quarters furnished created a great deal of dissatisfaction.
The legislature consisted of sixteen Senators and thirty-six Assemblymen.
There being no county organization, the members were elected by districts.
The Senate and Assembly were organized on the 17th of December.
The Governor and Lieutenant-governor were sworn in on the 20th. The
State government being organized, the legislature elected John C. Fremont
and William M. Gwin United State Senators.
On the 22nd the legislature elected the remaining State officers, viz. :
Richard Roman, treasurer; J. I. Houston, controller; E. J. C. Kewen, at-
torney-general; Charles J. Whiting, surveyor-general; S. C. Hastings, chief
justice; Henry Lyons and Nathaniel Bennett, associate justices. The
legislature continued in session until April 22, 1850. Although it was
nicknamed the "Legislature of a Thousand Drinks," it did a vast amount
of work and did most of it well. It was not made up of hard drinkers.
The majority of its members were above the average legislator in intelli-
gence, temperance and patriotism. The members were not there for pay
of for political preferment. They were there for the good of their adopted
State and labored conscientiously for its benefit.
80 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The State had set up housekeeping without a cent on hand to defray
expenses. There was not a quire of paper, a pen, nor an inkstand belonging
to the State, and no money to buy supplies. After wrestling with the
financial problem some time, an act authorizing a loan of $200,000 for
current expenses was passed. Later on in the session another act was
passed authorizing the bonding of the State for $300,000 with interest at
the rate of three per cent a month. The legislature divided the State into
twenty-seven counties, created nine judicial districts, passed laws for the
collection of revenue, taxing all real and personal property and imposing
a poll tax of $5 on all male inhabitants over twenty-one and under fifty
years of age.
California was a self-constituted State. It had organized a State
government and put it into successful operation without the sanction of
Congress. Officials, State, county and town, had been elected and had
sworn to support the constitution of the State of California, and yet there
was really no State of California. It had not been admitted into the Union.
On August 13th the bill for the admission of California finally came
to a vote. It passed the Senate, thirty-four ayes to eighteen noes. In
the House the bill passed by a vote of 150 ayes to fifty-six ultra Southern
noes. It was approved and signed by President Fillmore September 9,
1850. On the 11th of September the California Senators and Congress-
men presented themselves to be sworn in.
The news of the admission of California reached San Francisco on
the morning of October 18, by the mail steamer Oregon, nearly six weeks
after Congress had admitted it. Business was at once suspended, the courts
were adjourned, and the people went wild with excitement. Messengers,
mounted on fleet steeds, spread the news throughout the State. News-
papers from the States containing an account of the proceedings of Con-
gress at the time of admission sold for $5 each. It was decided to hold
a formal celebration of the event on the 29th and preparations were begun
for a grand demonstration.
At the plaza a flag of thirty-one stars was raised to the mast head.
An oration was delivered by Judge Nathaniel Bennett, and Mrs. Wills
recited an original ode of her own composition. The rejoicing over, the
people settled down to business. Their unprecedented action in organizing
a State government and putting it into operation without the sanction of
Congress had been approved and legalized by that body.
Like the Goddess Minerva, represented on its great seal, who sprung
full-grown from the brain of Jupiter, California was born a fully matured
State. She passed through no territorial probation. No State had such a
phenomenal growth in its infancy. No State before or since has met with
such bitter opposition when it sought admission into the family of States.
Never before was there such a medley of nationalities — Yankees, Mex-
icans, English, Germans, French, Spaniards, Peruvians, Polynesians, Mon-
golians — organized into a State and made a part of the body politic
nolens volens.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CHAPTER II
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY: GENERAL FEATURES
Contra Costa County will some day be called the "Hub" of California;
and rightly so, for its strategic location at the crossing of the trade routes
from the fertile valleys of the interior of the State, and from the great
Northwest, where the captains of commerce meet and barter with the rest
of the world, will in the near future, much more than in the past, compel
the recognition of its peculiar and paramount advantages.
In writing about the county, the difficulty lies not so much in finding
topics for discussion as in selecting among so multitudinous and so varied
an array of facts those which will give a clear and distinct appreciation of
the region as a whole, without overcrowding and confusing the understand-
ing. The writer has had an intimate acquaintance with nearly every county
in the State for over a quarter of a century, during which time a careful
study has been made of each for the purpose of describing and illustrating
its advantages. While recognizing the varied claims of the different
sections of our State, this one for climate, that one for scenery, another
for wealth of lumber, or mineral resources, and others for specialized hor-
ticultural, viticultural or agricultural opportunities, about which ample
volumes might be written with justice to each, yet the writer feels that no-
where else in California is there to be found such a gathering together
of material advantages, such manifold chances for advancement, such
fertility of soil, balminess of climate, and beauty of scenery; nor such
large-hearted hospitality of the people, linked with kindred social graces
and a wide-awake spirit of business enterprise which, at last awakened, is
now welcoming the coming of the new day of larger undertakings, of wider
views, and of broader developments. Ours then be the pleasant task of
recording a few of the reasons why there has gatherd within the confines
of Contra Costa County, one of the smaller among the fifty-eight counties
of the State, a population of some 60,000 of the most alert, open-eyed and
far-seeing of its people.
ADVANTAGES OF LOCATION
Contra Costa County contains 877 square miles of territory, or, to be
more exact, 561,873 acres of land, over three-fourths of which is cultivated,
and the balance utilized for grazing and pasturage. It is situated almost
midway between the north and south boundaries of the State, and near the
western border and the Pacific Ocean, being thus placed by nature at the
very center of things. The southwestern end of the county is within
seven miles in an air line of the Coast's great metropolis, San Francisco.
Then right adjoining are the growing cities of Oakland and Berkeley, with
82 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
almost a quarter of a million inhabitants, who are surging across the
county line in throngs and rapidly building up the interval between the
confines of Berkeley and Richmond, the banner city of the county, which
possesses the brightest future of any of the towns that front on San
Francisco Bay.
The Water Front
Beginning at Richmond, whose southern eminences are but eight miles
across the water from San Francisco, is the first deep water adjacent to that
city, and the beginning of what is probably the most incomparably valuable
asset of the county, a water front of seventy miles extent, comprising by far
the greatest amount of deep-water frontage on the Bay. Already this cir-
cumstance has been taken advantage of by many manufacturing establish-
ments in various parts of the country.
Fresh Water Anchorage
An item of especial interest in regard to this water front is the fact
that in the upper portions, stretching from the Carquinez Straits, in
increasing ratio, to Antioch and the eastern end of the county, on the San
Joaquin River and its tributary channels, the waters are fresh, and as a
consequence afford a cheap and easy means for ocean-going vessels to get
rid of barnacles and other salt-water growths, which die in the fresh water
and drop off, leaving the vessel's bottom clear, thereby saving the expense
and delay of being dry-docked and scraped.
Most Valuable River Traffic
The traffic of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers through the Delta
District of Contra Costa County amounts to $108,000,000 annually, a
larger traffic than that of any other river in the United States. Of this
vast sum, $52,000,000 originates in the Delta, the remainder coming from
points farther inland.
Included in the Delta are 525,000 acres — a small empire — where
enterprising farmers and horticulturists are annually producing millions
of dollars' worth of field and orchard products for the world's food supply.
Many companies receive their raw material by boat and ship out the
manufactured product by steamer and rail. The main lines of the Southern
Pacific, the Santa Fe, and the Sacramento-San Francisco Railroads traverse
the county, the first two having tracks that follow the coast line, reaching
all industrial centers.
There is regular ferry boat service from Contra Costa points. The
largest ferry boat in the world plies between Port Costa and Benicia, carry-
ing trains as well as passengers.
River shipping is another transportation convenience. Three hundred
miles of navigable rivers terminate on the Contra Costa water front,
placing a wide and prosperous interior within easy access of the shipper.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 83
Fine System of Highways
The system of highways makes motor transportation to all parts of the
county possible. Three transcontinental highways pass through Contra
Costa County.
The county is the pioneer of the double track concrete highway, which
adds comfort to motoring and makes collision accidents practically
impossible.
A road test recently conducted in Contra Costa County by scientific
experts was watched by road engineers from all over the country, who were
interested in discovering the most durable materials and construction for
heavy-traffic highways.
Auto trucks and stage lines offer convenient service when it is needed.
It is a down hill haul from practically all the State to the Contra Costa
water front.
Unsurpassed Climate
Contra Costa owes its favorable climate to its position and topography.
Situated between the Golden Gate and the great San Joaquin Valley, it
escapes the chill and fog that so often visit the former, and the high dry
heat of the interior. The Contra Costa range of hills protects the county
from the direct force of the constant trade winds, whose force proves
unpleasant to all but the most rugged and robust. Deflected by this range,
these winds blow up San Pablo Bay and, striking the northern shore of
the Carquinez Straits, sweep eastward into the vast interior valleys. As a
consequence, Contra Costa County receives the benefit of their cooling in-
fluence without being subjected to the effects of their direct onslaught. The
mean annual temperature, determined by observations extending over many
years, ranges from 52 to 60 degrees, except in the eastern portion, where
the average is from 60 to 68 degrees. Winter frosts are rare, and are light
and of short duration.
Droughts are unknown in Contra Costa County; the abundant winter
rains, the absence of the intense evaporating heat of the interior, and the
ozone and moisture-laden breezes from the ocean furnish abundant sup-
plies of watery vapor for all forms of vegetation, without the use of irri-
gation.
Of course there are variations in the different sections of the county.
The extreme western valleys fronting on San Francisco and San Pablo
Bays are cooler and moister than the eastern, but both are equally well
fitted, with some minor exceptions, for all classes of agriculture.
EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The eastern end of Contra Costa County is an empire of itself, a land
of perennial richness and inexhaustible fertility. Its topography is varied.
Along the northern and eastern portions, which lie on the San Joaquin and
its channels, there is a level plain, which continues for its whole eastern
face, fronted by a large area of tule delta lands, intersected by many
84 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
creeks and sloughs. Its center, south and west, is extremely hilly, with
fertile valleys lying between the ridges, while the canyons, through which
flow smiling streams, gamboling on their way to the rivers, are shaded
with a variety of fine trees and woods.
Lying in the northern foothills of Mount Diablo is the coal-producing
region. From the mines opened here much mineral wealth has been
extracted.
The plain lands of this section were formerly one of the most re-
markable wheat and hay-raising districts of the State, but were partially
cropped out. While hay is still a staple, the great reliance of this region
is fruit, thousands of acres of which are just coming into bearing. These
plains are in fact the commencement of the great valley of the San Joaquin,
a country most fair to look upon. In time to come, when subdivided and
intensively cultivated, these lands will, where properly watered, bear won-
derful crops of grain, fruit, vegetables and other farm produce.
The Rich Valleys
Back of this plain land open up the smaller valleys, the chief of which
are the Marsh, the Briones, and the Deer Creek valleys. These valleys
are now largely devoted to general farming, fruit and the cultivation of
grapes. There is here much deep alluvial soil, on the hills as well as in
the valleys, and also many broad acres of that reddish soil, impregnated
with minerals, which makes such wonderful land for grapes and fruits.
From Antioch east there is a region where table grapes are a very prof-
itable crop.
The Sandy Lands
There is a strange region lying between Oakley and Brentwood. The
soil is sandy and was originally covered with chaparral and scrub oak.
Useless land, said many men who tried to farm it and made a failure.
About 1887, however, James O'Hara came to the region. He bought
some of this land and was laughed at. But he had ideas. He planted
fruit trees on this sandy land and in doing so transformed the region.
Nowhere else does the fruit ripen so early or prove so sure a crop.
The Tule Lands
The tule lands are the wonder of the world. As fertile as the dyked
lands of Holland and as inexhaustible as the plains which receive the an-
nual floods of the Nile, there is nothing that they will not grow. Barley,
potatoes, beans, onions, vegetables fit to grace the tables of kings, are
grown, often two crops in the year, and especially asparagus and celery.
Fruit trees grow here too, and bear amazing crops, but vegetables pay
better and bigger returns.
Dairying
Dairying is another industry that is coming rapidly to the front, and is
yielding splendid returns for the investment. The milk and cream are
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 85
usually sent to the cities, where there is a great demand. A sign of the
times is the fact that these are all "sanitary" dairies, where especial pre-
caution is taken to insure absolute cleanliness in every department.
MOUNT DIABLO
This mountain is a distinctive possession of our county. Lying very
near the geographical center, it seems almost the pivot about which swings
every interest of the region and, in a sense, of the whole middle and north-
ern portions of the State. Its singularly commanding position makes it
the observed of all observers, and its beauty, both of contour and of sur-
roundings, deepens its charm on closer acquaintance.
About it gather most of the traditions of the Indian aborigines, to
whom it was a terror-striking divinity, loved or feared according to its
brighter or more threatening mood; and associated with it are many in-
cidents of special historic interest. The Indians called the mountain
"Pupunia," and often took shelter in its many caves.
Says the San Francisco Examiner :
"The country . . . dominated by Diablo was first revealed to white
men on March 20, 1772, when Capt. Don Pedro Fagis, Fray Juan Crespi,
twelve leatherjackets (soldiers), a muleteer, and a Lower Californian
Indian, attending the pack train, set out from Monterey to reach the old
Port of San Francisco. The old Port of San Francisco had been variously
described by Drake ( 1579) , Cermenon ( 1597) , Carbrera Bueno (1734),
Caspar de Portola (1769). But the Bay of San Francisco, as we today
know it, had not been seen by white men until Portola's soldiers fell upon
its southern arm in 1769. It was not until 1775 that the old name was
transferred from the old Port of San Francisco (Drake's Bay) to the
present Bay of San Francisco.
"On Friday, March 27th, with wondering eyes the motley band of
Spaniards beheld for the first time the Golden Gate (it was not so named
until 1848).
"On their march over San Antonio Valley, now Alameda and Oakland,
great herds of deer, antelope and elk were encountered, and bear were
daily camp visitors. In the evening smoke arose from hundreds of In-
dian campfires among the oaks, a picture hard to reconcile with the noisy
cities of today. Continuing on over the Richmond hills, following the line
of least resistance, they traveled over what is practically the route of the
popular boulevard skirting the base of Mount Diablo.
"Fray Crespi gave a detailed account of the fertile country over which
the party traveled and tells with much disappointment of encountering,
after so long and tedious a journey, a body of water (Carquinez Straits),
which prevented their going forward to Point Reyes (old Port San
Francisco).
"A conference was held among the little band, and to push forward
meant building boats; so the project was abandoned. On the return trip
they crossed the present site of Antioch, going eastward along the south-
86 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
ern shores of Suisun Bay to a point just north of Diablo. From these hills
Captain Fagis and Fray Crespi beheld before them the great rivers of the
great central valleys, and Fagis named the nearest one the San Joaquin.
"Thus, to that expedition of 1772 stands the credit of discovering the
Golden Gate and the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers; the naming of
the dominating landmark, Mount Diablo; and acquainting the world with
the splendid region on the eastern shore which Fray Palou calls 'Great
Sea of the Mediterranean'."
A legend of Mount Diablo runs as follows:
There was once a time when there were no human inhabitants in Cali-
fornia. There were two spirits, one evil and the other good. They made
war on each other, and the good spirit overcame the evil one. At that
period the entire face of the country was covered with water, except two
islands, one being Mount Diablo and the other Eagle Point on the north.
There was a coyote on the peak, the only living thing there. One day the
coyote saw a feather floating on the water. As it reached the island it
turned into an eagle, which flew upon the mountain. The coyote was
pleased with his new companion; dwelling in harmony together, they'made
occasional excursions to the other island, the coyote swimming and the
eagle flying.
After some time they counseled together and concluded to make In-
dians, and as the Indians increased the water decreased, until where the
water had been there was now dry land.
At that time, what is now known as the Golden Gate was a continuous
chain of mountains, so it was possible to go from one side to the other
without getting wet. Then there were only two outlets for all the waters
on this side of the Sierras, the Russian River and the San Juan at Pajaro.
A great earthquake later severed the chain of mountains and formed the
Golden Gate. Then the waters of the ocean and Bay mingled and it was
not long before the "pale face," or white man, found his way into Califor-
nia; and so as the waters decreased at the coming of the Indian, so have
the Indians decreased at the coming of the white man, until the war-
whoop is heard no more and the council fire is no more lighted. The In-
dians, like shadows, have passed silently away from the land of the coyote
and the eagle.
The following legend of the naming of Mount Diablo is told by Gen-
eral Vallejo:
"In 1806 a military expedition from San Francisco marched against
the tribe 'Bolgones,' who were encamped at the foot of the mountain.
The Indians were prepared to receive the expedition, and a hot engage-
ment ensued in the hollow fronting the western side. As the victory was
about to be decided in favor of the Indians, an unknown personage, dec-
orated with the most extraordinary plumage, and making divers move-
ments, suddenly appeared near the combatants. The Indians were vic-
torious and the incognito (Puy) departed towards the mountain. The
defeated soldiers, on learning that the spirit went through the same cere-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 87
mony daily and at all hours, named the mountain Diablo, in allusion to its
mysterious inhabitant, who continued to make his appearance until the
tribe was subdued by troops in command of Lieut. Gabriel Moraga, in a
second campaign of the same year. In the Indian tongue, Puy means evil
spirit; in Spanish, it means Diablo; in Anglo-American, Devil."
The mountain is also said to take its name from a phenomenon wit-
nessed amongst its gorges at a time when Indians were numerous. The
story runs thus: Once, in an expedition against horse-thief tribes, who in-
habited the valley as far down as the base of the mountain, the native
Californians came up with a party of freebooters laden with spoils of a
hunt, and immediately gave chase, driving them up the steep defiles which
form the ascent of the mountain on one side. Elated with the prospect
of securing and meting out punishment to the robbers, they were pressing
hard after them, when from a cavernous opening in their path there issued
forth such fierce flames, accompanied by so terrible a roaring, that, think-
ing themselves within a riata's throw of the principal entrance to his in-
fernal majesty's summer palace, the astonished rancheros forgot their hos-
tile errand and, turning tail, went down the mountain faster than they
went up. On reciting their adventure to their fellow ranchers, it was
agreed that the Devil and his chief steward had fixed their abode in the
mountain; and so they named it Mount Diablo.
The mountain itself is one of the most conspicuous and best-known
landmarks in California, and as such was naturally selected as the basis
of the survey systems of the State this side of the Tehachapi. It is not
its great elevation which has given it its preeminence, for other peaks in
the Coast Range are higher. Its height is only 3896 feet. But it is com-
paratively isolated and towers grandly up from the level of the sea al-
most unimpeded by foothills, save some on the south and west, where it
is somewhat dwarfed. Its symmetry and its grandeur, its fine double sum-
mit and conical outline, all make it a mountain among mountains and the
natural point of departure for eye and measurement.
From its summit there is spread a view that seems illimitable. The
eye ranges over an extent of 400 miles from north to south, and to the
east over the whole extent of the Sacramento-San Joaquin basin. Shasta
and Lassen Buttes are visible in clear weather to the north, and to the
south the vast uplift which culminates in Mt. Whitney. To the west, all
that great tumble of ridges and valleys that make up the Coast Range,
and even the streets of San Francisco, through a good glass, and beyond,
the Pacific Ocean, are visible — truly a noble prospect. It is estimated that
this comprehensive view embraces an area of 40,000 square miles and
that of as interesting a country as lies anywhere under the sun and stars.
Mount Diablo is worthy of a pilgrimage around the world to see.
Mount Diablo Scenic Boulevard, which winds through the Mount
Diablo Estate, was built in 1916 by R. N. Burgess and associates. Its
total length is twenty-three miles, in its two branches that run through the
Mount Diablo Country Club and to Walnut Creek. The climb rises 3849
88 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
feet, with a seven per cent to eight per cent grade. The features are the
Garden of Jungle Gods (giant freak rocks) and Devil's Slide. From
the top of Mount Diablo, in favorable weather, can be seen the State's
heart north and south, and the entire range of the Sierra Nevadas.
On October 25, 1926, in the presence of a large throng on the sum-
mit of Mt. Diablo, Glenn B. Ashcroft of Alameda, president of the So-
ciety of Engineers of San Francisco, dedicated the northerly pinnacle to the
memory of Colonel Leander Ransome, pioneer engineer, who in 1851 es-
tablished that point as the base meridian for all surveys in California.
The Mount Diablo Estate of 10,000 acres belongs to the Mount
Diablo Park Club and to Mount Diablo Park, which is open to guests
and members. This organization grew out of the Oakwood Park Stock
Farm owned by Seth Cook, a retired miner and horseman. He was a
royal entertainer and had a race course of his own, with a row of euca-
lyptus trees all around the track. It is now owned by the Country Club
as a community farm of forty acres, with Diablo the business center of
the community.
VALLEYS IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The chief valleys in the county are known as the Alhambra, Pacheco,
Ygnacio, Clayton and San Ramon. These actually constitute one valley,
however, and are continuous for almost thirty miles, varying in width
from one-half mile to fifteen miles. There are smaller separate valleys,
known as Stone, Lone Tree, Pinole, Rodeo, Franklin and Briones, all well
watered by running streams. In the eastern part of the county begins the
great San Joaquin Valley, with an average width in Contra Costa County
of twenty miles, and with a beautiful stretch of country sloping from
Mount Diablo to the San Joaquin River.
Ygnacio Valley lies at the foot of Mount Diablo on the northwest, and
reaches to the Sacramento River and Suisun Bay. Walnut Creek flows
through this valley.
Diablo Valley is separated from Ygnacio Valley by Lime Ridge, and
extends southeasterly. It contains about fifty square miles of arable land
and is drained by a small creek which has its source in the ridge.
Stone Valley is a small valley east of and adjoining San Ramon.
Pacheco Valley lies on the northern side of Mount Diablo and extends
to Suisun Bay. It is a central valley of the county and is six miles wide by
fifteen miles in length. It merges into Ygnacio Valley and is watered by
Walnut Creek. Mount Diablo Creek drains the eastern portion and, ad-
joining Walnut Creek, empties into Suisun Bay.
San Ramon Valley extends towards the south and merges with Liver-
more Valley in Alameda County. It is about one mile wide and twelve
miles long, with Contra Costa hills on one side and on the other the spurs
and foothills of Mount Diablo.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 89
Alhambra Valley lies to the south of Martinez, where it opens up to
Carquinez Straits, and is about six miles long and one mile wide. The
famous Alhambra Mineral Springs are in this valley.
Franklin Valley, better known as Franklin Canyon, is a spur of Al-
hambra Valley and runs back into the Contra Costa hills about three
miles. It is one of the show places along the Santa Fe Railroad.
San Pablo Valley, one of the largest in the county, faces San Francisco
Bay and contains about 18,000 acres of land.
Briones, Pinole and Rodeo are smaller valleys that extend back into
the hills. Deer Creek Valley is in the eastern part of the county.
Tassajara Valley
This extensive valley lies on the southeastern slopes of Mount Diablo,
and is a beautiful region of more or less high ridges and large expanses.
It is a land of cattle ranges and dairy farming, although much grain and
hay are also grown.
This section is somewhat cut off from the rest of the county, and as a
consequence much of the business of the region gravitates to Livermore
and Pleasanton, nearby towns in Alameda County. It is a rich country,
possessing resources of immense potential value.
This valley was settled by many Irish ranchers and is a grain-raising
locality. Abner Pearson was one of the first American settlers. Then
came Gillette Brothers in 1851 ; they raised the first grain in 1852. Mark
Elliott, Wilson Coats, and Levi Maxey were also among the pioneers.
Philip Mendenhall was a large property owner in the valley, as is also
Thomas Carneal. There has been but little advancement made beyond
grain-raising, although some fruit is being raised at this writing.
San Ramon Valley
. The largest, the richest in natural resources, and one of the mosi
favored valleys for the country homes of San Franciscans and other city
dwellers is the San Ramon. It stretches from the waters of the Sacra-
mento River at Suisun Bay to the southern extremity of the county, and
ranges in width from fifteen miles in its lower part to a mile or less in
some parts of its upper reaches. It possesses every variety of soil, and
taken all in all, is considered one of the richest and most beautiful pieces
of land in the State.
In point of scenic beauty, it is unsurpassed. On one side is the Contra
Costa range, a rare aggregation of beautiful peaks and slopes, grand
heights and deep, dark canyons, that present a kaleidoscope of changing
loveliness with the procession of the seasons.
On the other side is Mount Diablo and its wonders, bright and glad
when the sun shines bright, sombre and forbidding when shrouded with
storm' clouds, beautiful always.
San Ramon has many tributary valleys. In the early times San Ramon
was a famous cattle country.
90 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
It is a region where horses and other animals thrive well. Some of
the fastest and best horses in the country have been raised in this valley
— horses that have carried off the biggest money.
But now-a-days fruit orchards, grape vineyards and intensive cultiva-
tion are coming to the fore.
Dairy farming, likewise, is an expanding industry and very profitable.
People are adding to their herds every day, and prosperity is visible on
every hand.
In San Ramon Valley are some of the most beautiful country homes
in the West, where art and nature vie with each other to create a charmed
environment.
Alhambra Valley
Contra Costa County may be called a Jewel Box, containing gems
of value, all beautiful, all brilliant, all blessed with perennial virtue, but
of different qualities and possessing an endless variety of settings. Among
these Alhambra shines with brightest luster, every acre of its length pre-
senting a charm to sight and memory.
Alhambra Valley is all the lovelier because it is small. It is only five
miles in length, and is nowhere more than a mile wide. The mountains
crowd up close on every side. Trees crown their eminences often, and
mark the course of their canyons; great oaks dot the landscape. The soil
of the bottom lands is the richest loamy mold, and bears bumper crops.
The hillsides have lighter, more pliable soils, which for some kinds of
vines and trees are unexcelled. El Hambre Creek flows down through
the valley.
On a knoll in the lower part of this valley John Muir, the famous na-
turalist and lover of the Sierras, made his home; and John Swett, premier
educator of the State, also selected this valley for his home.
The famous Alhambra water, which is bottled at Martinez and shipped
over the world, comes from copious springs about a mile below the
head of the valley. It is piped to the bottling depot at Martinez.
Alhambra is the nearest valley to the city of Martinez, which in fact is
built in its mouth. The Santa Fe railway crosses it, a mile or so up, over a
viaduct that has been admired for its elegant and substantial construction.
Ygnacio Valley
This fertile valley has been aptly styled the Dreamland of California,
the soil of this valley, which lies at the northwestern foot of Mount
Diablo, is of that peculiarly rich, dark loam which has always been found
the very best for fruits of every kind. There are large orchards here of
pears, prunes, peaches, almonds, apricots and walnuts which yield unfailing
crops. Where the valley has not been transformed into orchard and vine-
yard, it is still dotted with the great oaks that beautify so much of the
county. Beautiful estates cover the whole area of this valley — the homes,
most of them, of wealthy people who spend a portion of the year, at least,
away from the distractions of the cities and the cares of business.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 91
CHAPTER III
EARLY COUNTY HISTORY
On December 15, 1849, an act was signed dividing the State into
counties. It was passed on February 18, 1850, and confirmed on April
25, 1850.
The original boundary of Contra Costa (Opposite Coast) County
was as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Alameda Creek and running
northeasterly to the middle of the Bay of San Francisco; thence north or
northwest following as near the middle of the bay as possible, to the
Straits of San Pablo; thence up the middle of the straits to Suisun Bay
and up the middle of said bay to the mouth of the San Joaquin River;
thence, following up the middle of said river, to a place known as Pesca-
dero or Lower Crossing; thence in a direct line to the northeast corner of
Santa Clara County, which is on the summit of the Coast Range, near
the source of Alameda Creek; thence down the middle of said creek to
its mouth, the place of beginning, including the islands of San Pablo, Core-
acas and Tesoro. The county seat to be at Martinez.
On March 25, 1853, an act was passed by the legislature creating
Alameda County from the south portion of Contra Costa County, and a
part of Santa Clara County.
The present boundary of Contra Costa County was then established,
viz. : Beginning at the Bay of San Francisco at the northwest point of Red
Rock, being the common corner of Marin, Contra Costa and San Fran-
cisco Counties, as established in Section 3950 of the Political Code of the
State of California; thence up the straits and Bay of San Pablo, on the
eastern boundary of Marin, to the point of intersection with the line
bearing south 26 J^ degrees east, about 6j4 miles from the southwest
corner of Napa County as established in Section 3958, Political Code,
forming the common corner of Marin, Solano, Sonoma and Contra Costa
Counties as established in Section 3955; thence to Carquinez Straits;
thence up said straits and Suisun Bay to the mouth of San Joaquin River;
thence up said river to confluence of the west and main channels thereof,
as laid down in Gibbe's map; thence up west channel to a point about ten
miles below Moore & Rhodes' ranch, at a bend where said channel, run-
ning downward, takes a general course north, the ^ame being on the west
line of San Joaquin County and forming the northeast corner of Alameda
County and southeast corner of Contra Costa County; thence on the
north line of Alameda County, as laid down in Higley's map and estab-
lished in Section 3953, to the easterly line of San Francisco City and
92 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
County, as established in Section 3950; thence due northwest along the
easterly line of San Francisco, A]/ 2 miles, more or less, to place of begin-
ning. The county seat to be at Martinez.
On May 13, 1850, by order of County Judge E. M. Warmcastle, the
court of sessions convened at Martinez. There were present Judge Warm-
castle; Absolom Peak and Edward G. Guest, associate justices; T. A.
Brown, county clerk, and N. Jones, sheriff. It was ordered that there be
assessed and collected for ordinary county expenditure from the real and
personal property taxable by law to the amount of twenty-five cents on
each $100; and that in the same manner a like sum should be levied for
constructing public buildings for use of the county. The county clerk was
ordered to procure a suitable building for location of the court house and
clerk's office, to fit up same, and supply all necessary books and stationery.
A State poll tax of $2.50 was made collectible from those whom the law
required to pay it. On June 3, the county clerk was ordered to receive
sealed proposals for the erection of a jail. On July 20, certain accounts for
labor performed on temporary buildings were allowed. A sum not to ex-
ceed $50 was also allowed to procure an official seal.
On August 17 the following licenses were levied: To vend goods,
wares, merchandise, with a capital of $5000 or less, $20 per year. To
vend spirituous, malt and fermented liquors in less quantities than one
pint, $50 per year.
An application was made and a license granted Oliver C. Coffin to
establish a ferry between Martinez and Benicia upon his filing a $2000
bond. Fares limited by the court: Each man, $1; each man and horse,
$2.50; each single horse or mule, $2; each wagon, $5; each carriage, $4;
each head of sheep or hogs, etc., 50 cents. ,
On May 11, 1852, the court of sessions ordered one-half of the reve-
nue collected for county purposes, fixed for the year at fifty cents on $100,
should be set apart as a public building fund; also a call for bids to build
a court house in court house square, Martinez. The latter was recalled
by the supervisors on August 10.
On May 3, a board of supervisors was created for the county; an
election was held on June 14, 1852, and William Patten, S. H. Robinson,
Victor Castro, R. Farrelly, and T. J. Keefer were elected. Patten was
chosen chairman. On July 5 committees were duly appointed and matters
arranged for the full organization of the board, who at once assumed the
reins of civil government. Their earliest order was the laying out of a
road between Oakland and San Pablo.
In 1854, L. R. Townsend submitted plans; and H. J. Childers & C.
Chipman a bid to build a court house for $27,000, which was accepted.
The site chosen was on, a hill fronting the bay, Lot 4, Block 2, Martinez.
On March 20, 1855, the county clerk, assessor and surveyor divided
the county into three districts. On April 30 an election was called to
choose a supervisor for each district. John H. Livingston was elected in
the first district; L. E. Morgan in No. 2; and W. JR. Bishop, in No. 3.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 93
For the first fiscal year, 1850-1851, the assessed valuation of land
within the boundaries of the county, as at present defined, was $408,756;
value of improvements, $10,225; personal property, $237,266; total,
$656,247. In 1875-1876 the assessed valuation of land had increased
to $4,593,910; improvements, $522,973 ; personal property, $1,820,480.
Value of town lots, $139,426; improvements, $211,448. Total valuation
of property, $7,368,312.
In 1853, according to the assessor's report, there were 40,000 apple,
20,000 peach, 10,000 pear, 7000 plum, 4200 cherry, 1500 quince, 1250
apricot, 1000 fig, 3500 mulberry, 1000 almond, 500 prune, 1000 orange,
50 lemon and 100 olive trees in the county; and there were 600,000 grape
vines, with a sprinkling of almost every other kind of fruit grown in the
middle zone.
Spanish Families and Early Land Claims
In 1852 there were living in Contra Costa County the following Span-
ish families: Alvarado, Castro, Sepulveda, Estudillo, Moraga, Briones,
Martinez, Sunol, Soto, Peralta, Altemerano, Amador, Miranda, Berry-
essa, Pacheco, Boca, Higuero, Alviso and Naviaga.
The following is a list of land claims in Contra Costa County:
Elam Brown for Alcalanes, 1 square league, granted August 1, 1834,
by Jose Figueroa to C. Valencia. Claim filed February 2, 1852; confirmed
February 14, 1853'; appeal dismissed November 26, 1856. 3,328.95
acres, patented.
Salvio Pacheco for Monte del Diablo, granted March 30, 1844, by
Jose Figueroa to S. Pacheco. Claim filed February 27, 1852, confirmed by
district court January 14, 1856; appeal dismissed November 24, 1856.
17,921.54 acres; patented.
Robert Livermore, claimant for Canada de los Vaqueros, granted Feb-
ruary 29, 1844, by Manuel Micheltorena to Francisco Alviso et al. Claim
filed February 27, 1852; confirmed by committee September 4, 1855; by
district court December 28, 1857 ; appeal dismissed December 28, 1857.
Joseph Swanson, administrator of the estate of William Welch, for
Las Juntas, 3 square leagues, 13,324.29 acres; granted February 9, 1844,
by Manuel Micheltorena to William Welch. Claim filed March 23, 1852;
confirmed by committee December 20, 1853 ; dismissed November 3, 1857.
Heirs of Juan Sanchez de Pacheco for Arroyo de Las Nueces y Bol-
bones, granted July 11, 1834, by Jose Figueroa to Juan Sanchez de Pa-
checo. Claim filed April 6, 1852 ; confirmed by committee April 11, 1853;
by district court December 22, 1856. Decision of United States Supreme
Court as to right to appeal in 20 Howard, 261. Decree of district court
affirmed by U. S. Supreme Court in 22 Howard, 225. 17,734.52 acres.
Rafaela Soto de Pacheco et al. for San Ramon, granted June 10,
1833, by Jose Figueroa. Claim filed April 13, 1852; rejected by com-
mittee November 22, 1853; confirmed by district court February 8, 1858.
94 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Teodora Soto for Canada del Hambre and Las Bolsas del Hambre,
granted May 18, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to Teodora Soto. Claim
filed April 29, 1852; confirmed by committee May 15, 1855; by district
court April 16, 1857; appeal dismissed August 11, 1857. Two square
leagues, 13,312.70 acres.
John Marsh for Los Meganos, 4 square leagues, granted October 13,
1835, by Jose Castro to Jose Noriega. Claim filed May 3, 1852; reject-
ed by committee March 14, 1854; confirmed by district court April 9,
1858, and later by the United States Supreme Court.
Maria Antonia Martinez de Richardson et al. for Pinole, 4 square
leagues, 17,786.49 acres, granted June 1, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to
Ygnacio Martinez. Claim filed July 8, 1852; confirmed by committee
October 24, 1854; dismissed March 10, 1857.
Leo Norris for part of San Ramon, 1 square league, 4,450.94 acres,
granted by Figueroa to Jose M. Amador. Claim filed September 20, 1852 ;
confirmed by committee August 1, 1854, by district court Sept. 10, 1857.
Joaquin Ysidro Castro, administrator for San Pablo, 4 square leagues,
19,394.40 acres, granted by Figueroa June 12, 1834, to Francisco Castro,
deceased, and to his heirs; and on the 13th, the surplus lands to Joaquin
Ysidro Castro and the heirs of Francisco Castro. Claim filed October 9,
1852; confirmed by committee April 17, 1855; by district court February
24, 1858; appeal dismissed March 10, 1858.
Maria Manuela Valencia for Boca de Canada del Pinole, 3 square
leagues, 13,353.38 acres, granted June 21, 1842, by Juan B. Alvarado to
M. M. Valencia. Claim filed December 13, 1852; rejected by committee
August 10, 1854; confirmed by district court November 26, 1854, and by
United States Supreme Court.
Joaquin Moraga for Laguna de los Palos Colorados, 3 square leagues,
13,318.13 acres, granted August 10, 1841, by Alvarado to Juan Moraga
and Juan Bernal. Claim filed February 15, 1853; confirmed by committee
January 23, 1855; by district court March 24, 1856; appeal dismissed
April 8, 1858.
Jonathan D. Stevenson et al. for Medanos, 2 square leagues, 8,890.26
acres, granted November 26, 1839, by Alvarado to Jose Antonio Mesa et
al. Claim filed February 24, 1853 ; confirmed by committee June 19, 1855 ;
by district court October 16, 1856; appeal dismissed April 2, 1857.
Inocencio Romero et al. for land granted February 4, 1844, by Mich-
eltorena to I. Romero et al. Claim filed February 4, 1844; rejected by
committee April 17, 1855, and by district court September 16, 1857.
E. R. Carpentier, 10 square leagues, a portion granted by de Sola; an-
other portion granted in 1841 to Juan, Jose and Victor Castro by Alva-
rado; another portion granted by Figueroa to Francisco Castro and re-
granted in 1844 by Micheltorena to Louis Peralta. Claim filed February
28, 1853; rejected by committee January 30, 1855; appeal dismissed for
failure of prosecution, April 21, 1856.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 95
H. W. Carpentier for 225 acres, granted by de Sola and Micheltorena
to Louis Peralta. Claim filed February 28, 1853; discontinued by claim-
ant January 23, 1855.
William C. Jones et al. for San Pablo, 3 square leagues, granted June
12, 1834, by Figueroa to Francisco M. Castro. Claim filed March 1, 1853 ;
rejected by committee March 27, 1855; appeal dismissed for failure to
prosecute April 21, 1856.
James Enright et al. for Medanos, 2 square leagues, granted Novem-
ber 26, 1839, by Alvarado to Jose Antonio and Jose Maria Mesa. Claim
filed March 2, 1853; rejected by committee March 27, 1855; appeal dis-
missed for failure to prosecute April 21, 1856.
The Indians of Contra Costa County
The Indians of Contra Costa County were the Jucheyunes, Alcalanes,
Bolgones, and Carquinez. They were ignorant and went half naked, the
men wearing a crude sort of loin cloth and the women an apron of tules,
hanging from the waist to the knees, front and back, and open at the sides,
as summer garb; in winter their garments were made from deer skin or
feathers from water fowls. Their summer habitations were little more
than shelters made from boughs, interwoven to hold together and keep
off the sun. In winter they lived in their wikiups, "sometimes erected on
level ground," as Bancroft describes them, "but more frequently over an
excavation three or four feet deep and from ten to thirty feet in diameter.
Round the brink of this hole willow poles are sunk upright in the ground,
the top drawn together forming a conical structure; or the upper ends
are bent over and driven into the earth on the opposite side of the hole,
thus giving the hut a semi-globular shape. Bushes or strips of bark are
then piled up against the poles, and the whole covered with a thick layer
of earth or mud. In some instances the interstices of the frame are filled
with twigs woven crosswise over and under between the poles, and the out-
side covering is of tule reeds instead of earth. A hole at the top gives
egress to the smoke, and a small opening close to the ground admits the
occupants. Each hut generally shelters a whole family of relations by
blood and marriage, so that the dimensions of the habitation depend on
the size of the family."
The Indians were short and stocky, broad-shouldered and strong. They
were swarthy and had flat features and long, straight, black hair, coarse
and unkempt.
Dr. John Marsh, writing to Lewis Cass in 1846, says "they are a hairy
race, and some of them have beards that would do honor to a Turk. In
some individuals the hair grows quite down to the eyebrows, and they
may be said to have no foreheads at all. Some few have that peculiar
conformation of the eye so remarkable in the Chinese and Tartar races,
entirely different from the American Indian, or the Polynesian; and with
96 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
this unpromising set of features, some have an animated and agreeable
countenance."
For food they ate various kinds of roots, earthworms and grasshop-
pers. They made a bread from the pounded kernel of the acorn or buck-
eye, and used some kinds of fat worms for shortening. In fact they ate
anything and everything, according to the season.
The Contra Costa Indians cremated their dead, the near relation of
the deceased being given the honor of lighting the funeral pyre, which
consumed all possessions that had been piled around the body. After-
wards the ashes would be mixed with pitch and smeared on the faces of
the relations as a badge of mourning. They believed in a continued exist-
ence after death, and had a vague idea of the Great Spirit. They held
certain rocks to be sacred, and would not eat grizzly bear meat, which
they held in veneration. They were extremely docile and would willingly
submit to punishment for faults committed, if shown kindness to start
with. They were about the only laborers in California in the early days.
Old Adobes
In San Pablo is located what is left of the oldest adobe house in Contra
Costa County. It was built in 1838 by Don Joaquin Castro, once gover-
nor of California under Spanish rule. The outer walls are of adobe (clay
and grass to hold it together) three feet thick; the inner walls are two
feet thick. The rooms were spacious and were the scene of many fash-
ionable gatherings. This house, first occupied by the Castro family, was
later the home of Juan B. Alvarado, also an ex-governer, and the father
of Henry V. Alvarado, one of the superior judges of the county. This
property is now a part of the Belding estate.
Adobe bricks were made by the Indians, who usually worked for the
Spanish dons without pay. The bricks were made of clay, mixed with
grass to hold the shape, molded into shape, and left to dry. First one
side was turned to the sun, then the other, until dry all through. They
were then laid into the wall with mortar made of mud, and again left
to dry. To build an adobe house was a laborious task, and usually a year
elapsed before the house was ready for occupancy.
At the county line, there is another adobe house, which was occupied
by Victor Castro, a son of the former governor. In connection with it
are two long buildings, one used as a stable and the other as a chapel for
the Indians. Some of the Castro family are buried near this latter house.
On the Sobrante Grant is still a third adobe. This was occupied by
a daughter of Castro. She married a Catterras. In the yard at this place
members of the Catterras family are buried.
Transportation
The first mail ever carried up the Sacramento River was carried by
Seth M. Swain, of Martinez, in the schooner John Dunlap, on July 24,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 97
1849. He received $600 for his service, although the postage paid was
less than $60 and the mail was all contained in one bag.
In 1849 Dr. Semple, of Benicia, established the first ferry running
to a point now the site of Alhambra cemetery. The boat was propelled
by oars at first; then a wheel was put on and run by horse power.
In 1851, Capt. O. C. Coffin put on the first flat-bottom boat, the lone,
and carried passengers from Antioch and Collinsville. He brought the
boat to Martinez, remodeled it, as it had been run by horse power, put in
an engine, and gave regular service between Martinez and Benicia until
July, 1854. There was no ferry slip or wharf; an apron was used to land
passengers and vehicles. The landing was at the foot of Ferry Street.
Later the lone became a float for a pile-driver; and when her days of
usefulness were over she was run aground in the tules, and there her hull
gradually rotted.
In 1853 a steam ferry was built in New York, brought via the Horn
to Martinez and launched in the spring of 1854, and began regular serv-
ice in July. It was owned by Capt. O. C. Coffin and Charles G. and Henry
Coffin and was called the Carquinez. There was a large volume of busi-
ness done in carrying stock across the straits. A large corral was built
where the depot grounds of the Southern Pacific now are. It was com-
posed of cordwood, which was used on the ferry to generate steam. The
sticks were four feet long and the corral was built six feet high, and there
was always enough wood on hand to keep a good corral. The charge was
$1 per head for cattle. The ferry also carried mail and passengers, as
there were many school children going to and from Benicia.
When the Carquinez was condemned, the Benicia was built and the
engines were transferred from the old to the new boat. When the rail-
road put on the Solano, the Benicia failed to pay and was abandoned.
Vessels plying between San Francisco and up river points made Mar-
tinez a port of call daily.
In 1877 the railroad was built through Contra Costa County by the
Central Pacific. The road was completed in 1878, at which time immi-
gration began fh earnest and the whole county benefited. Stage coach and
sail boat were slow means of getting over the country, and freight teams
soon disappeared.
Byron came into prominence on account of its mineral springs being
visited by thousands from every part of the United States and abroad.
The San Ramon branch of the railroad was built in 1890 and opened
up the best section of the county.
The Santa Fe, established early in 1895 as the San Francisco and San
Joaquin Valley Railroad at a cost of $2,500,000, began operating • at
Stockton on July 22. It had been built by San Francisco capital. In 1899
the company sold out to the Santa Fe. On August 26 of that year the
Santa Fe was completed to Pinole, and on March 3, 1902, the post office,
Wells-Fargo Express, telegraph office and news depot opened, all in the
98 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
railroad station. In 1900 the line was completed between Stockton and
Richmond, the shops being located in the latter place that year, and the
service on cars being done in the open on side tracks until January 26, 1901,
when permanent buildings were erected and the shops began functioning.
In January, 1909, the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern was incorporated,
a 1200-volt electric line between San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento,
and passing through the Moraga Valley to Moraga, the Country Club,
Burton and Lafayette, and through San Ramon Valley to Saranap. It
branched off to Alamo, Danville and Diablo, Walnut Creek, Pacheco Val-
ley, Concord, Bay Point, West Pittsburg, and again to Pittsburg. It was
incorporated by A. W. Maltby, of Concord, W. Arnstein, of Alamo, and
S. L. Napthaly and H. A. Mitchell, both of San Francisco. Work began
at Bay Point in February, 1909 ; and in May, 1911, it was opened to Wal-
nut Creek, and on to Oakland in April, 1913. On April 11, 1911, the
Oakland, Antioch & Eastern incorporated to build to Sacramento from Bay
Point, and in August, 1913, the line was put in operation between Bay
Point and Pittsburg Landing. The new road leased the old Oakland &
Antioch and the San Ramon Valley Railroad, and passenger and freight
service are looked after carefully.
The county is traversed and served by several lines of auto stages run-
ning from Stockton, Oakland, and other Northern California points, so
that no difficulty arises when a person wants to reach any given point
at any time.
Bridges and Ferries
An aid to transportation through Contra Costa County from the east
and north will be found in the two large toll-bridges now under construc-
tion by the American Toll Bridge Company, a $5,000,000 corporation.
The one nearest completion is being built across the San Joaquin River
three miles south of Antioch and connects with Sherman Island. This
bridge will open up a quicker route to the bay cities through the richest
farming sections of the county. It will cost $1,400,000 when completed,
and will have a clearance of from 3iy 2 to 70 feet from high water to the
floor of the bridge, with a ninety-foot fairway between the piers supporting
the causeway. The roadway will be wide enough for three automobiles
abreast and cement walks for pedestrians.
The bridge, 3587 feet long, a concrete trestle, has one fixed steel span
with seventy-foot clearance at high water, and one steel lift span with a
minimum clearance of 136 feet when the span is open. Each span has 270
feet between the piers. Both the fixed and the lift span will accommodate
the river traffic, and the lift span all sea-going vessels when open.
Thousands of tourists, routed over the Victory Highway from all
eastern points through Sacramento, and on down past Courtland, Isleton
and Rio Vista to Sherman Island, will pass through Antioch, Pittsburg,
Concord and Walnut Creek on the concrete highways to Oakland and
San Francisco.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 99
The Carquinez Straits bridge will extend from a point near South
Vallejo, in Solano County, to Valona, in Contra Costa County, and will
be one of the largest bridges of its kind in the country. It will be 3350 feet
in length and will cost $6,500,000. There will be a clearance of 135 feet
for ships, a thirty-foot concrete roadway, space for sidewalks, and one
track for electric trains.
Engineers who have studied the vehicular traffic in the State, particu-
larly the present ferry receipts of the Rodeo Ferry, which is owned by the
company building these bridges, estimate that the two bridges will carry
more than a million vehicles during the first year they are in operation.
The American Toll Bridge Company promises that both bridges will be
completed and open for traffic before the expiration of the new time limit,
which was fixed as February 5, 1927, a twelve-months extension of time
having been granted by the board of supervisors.
At the expiration of twenty-five years the owership of the Carquinez
bridge, by terms of the franchise, reverts to Contra Costa and Solano
Counties. Until that time Contra Costa County will receive one per cent
of the gross income from both bridges, which it is estimated will exceed
$1,000,000 annually. Solano County will receive one per cent of the gross
income from the Carquinez bridge, and Sacramento County a like per cent
of the gross income from the Antioch bridge. In addition, this county
will receive $100 per month for franchise rights.
Then there are the ferries : The Richmond-San Francisco ferry, from
Richmond to San Francisco; the Richmond-San Rafael Ferry, from Rich-
mond to San Quentin Point, opening up the coast counties of Marin, So-
noma, Mendocino, and Humboldt; Rodeo Ferry from Rodeo to South Val-
lejo, a short route through Napa and Solano Counties to Sacramento and
the north; the Martinez-Benicia Ferry, also giving direct communication
for Oakland and San Joaquin Valley points with Northern California and
the coast counties; the Port Costa-Benicia Southern Pacific train ferry, with
the largest ferry boat in operation in the world; and the ferry for the
Oakland, Antioch & Eastern (Sacramento Short Line), near Pittsburg.
Minerals and Mining
In 1850 a lime quarry was discovered one mile from Pacheco. This was
the first in the State and was owned by F. L. Such & Company.
On November 24, 1858, Rountree, Walker & Dickson discovered coal
half way between the base of Mount Diablo and what is now Antioch,
five miles from the San Joaquin River. That same year W. C. Israel dis-
covered coal while cleaning out a spring on his land at Horse Haven. He,
with his father and brother George, opened up the vein. Later they dis-
posed of it to Watkins and Noyes. In 1861 the mine was abandoned.
On December 22, 1859, three and one-half miles from Horse Haven,
Frank Somers and J. T. Cruikshank discovered the Black Diamond vein.
Somers, Cruikshank, H. S. Hauxhurst, and S. Adams located lands that
were later known as the Manhattan and Eureka Mines. George Haux-
100 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
hurst, G. H. P. Henderson and William Henderson, and Frank Somers
opened the Black Diamond and the Cumberland Mines. Noah Norton
afterwards had the Black Diamond and Frank Such the Cumberland.
Such sold out to C. T. Cutler, A. Tyler, J. Sturgis, and L. C. Wittenmyer
of Martinez, who successfully worked the property and built the roads
from Clayton and New York Landing. They also helped Norton to open
the Black Diamond.
The Pittsburg Mine was located by G. H. P. Henderson. The Central
Coal Mine was located by J. E. Wright, who later was joined by W. B.
Stewart. The Union Mine was located by George Hauxhurst. Indepen-
dence was purchased from R. Charnock by Greenwood and Newbauer.
The Empire Company opened in 1876. For many years coal-mining
was the principal interest in the county. Somersville, Nortonville, and
Black Diamond, or Pittsburg Landing, were built through this industry.
Copper was discovered in 1863, and its discovery created great excite-
ment. Prices for land soared, and for a time hundreds prospected, but
the excitement soon died down. Clayton was the center of this excitement,
and the operations there brought on boom times. Lots sold for high
prices, many companies were formed, shafts were sunk, and some ore was
obtained. The first shipment was two tons of copper ore, and was made on
September 19, 1863, when it was sent to San Francisco to be smelted.
Later a smelter was erected at Antioch.
In March, 1860, L. W. Hastings discovered silver on the east side
of Mount Diablo. Nothing ever came of it, however, except as a venture
in which many people dropped their money.
Paint deposits were discovered in 1862 and were tested out by Dr. E.
F. Hough. These deposits were found two miles from Martinez on the
bank of the El Hambre Creek, and the colors were yellow, green, blue and
red. In 1863 a mill for grinding was built, but the industry was never de-
veloped to the extent necessary to determine its real value commercially.
In 1862 petroleum was discovered near Antioch. Coal oil was also
found near Pacheco in 1868.
The Cowell Portland Cement Company have 3000 acres at the base
of Mount Diablo, where they have the greatest cement plant in the world.
Important Industrial Concerns
Among the industrial concerns of Contra Costa County we mention
the following as the more important:
Value of Number of
City Firm Product Employees
Antioch — Hickmott Canning Co $ 750,000 140
The Paraffine Companies, Inc 3,000,000 285
Antioch Mill & Lumber Co 200,000 25
Bay Point — Coos Bay Lumber Co 3,600,000 250
American Foundry Co 10,000 6
Brentwood — Cal. Wharf & Warehouse Co 8,000 5
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 101
Crockett— Cal. & Hawaiian Refining Corp $70,000,000 2000
Cowell— Cowell Portland Cement Co 3,000,000..... 235
Giant— Giant Powder Works 5,000,000 150
Hercules— Hercules Powder Works 10,000,000 250
Martinez— Shell Oil Co 40,000,000 1200
Associated Oil Co. (Avon) 25,000,000 850
American Oriental Oil Co 550,000 35
Nichols— General Chemical Co 750,000 350
Oleum— Union Oil Co 10,000,000 500
Pittsburg— Columbia Steel Corporation 7,000,000 .1500
Redwood Manufacturers Co 4,750,000 400
Pioneer Rubber Mills 3,000,000 400
F. E. Booth Co. 2,500,000 500
Great Western Electro Chemical Co 1,000,000...... 250
Pittsburg Fisheries 800,000 250
Western California Fish Co 500,000. 25
A. B. Davis Fisheries 300,000..... 100
National Chemical Co 85,000..... 45
Alaska Fishermen 250
Bundesen & Lauritzen, Shipbuilders ---. 40
C. A. Hooper Lumber Co 60
California Bean Growers 18
Johns-Mannsville Co 125
Pioneer Dairy Co. .. 35
Coast Counties Gas & Electric Co 35
Standard Oil Co 50
Union Oil Co 20
Port Costa — Port Costa Brick Works 40
Port Costa Warehouses 400
Richmond— Standard Oil Co. and 20 aux. pints. 60,000,000 2850
Pacific Sanitary Mfg. Co 3,000,000..... 1100
Certain-Teed Products 2,250,000 200
Stauffer Chemical Works 1,250,000. 50
California Cap Works 685,000 120
California Art Tile Co 65
Blake Bros. Quarry 500,000. 50
E. M. Tilden Mills 165,000..... 40
Hutchinson Quarry Co 190,000 30
Pacific Vegetable Oil & Lead Co 275,000 25
Princeton Knitting Mills 250,000 45
Pullman Car Shops 750
Republic Steel Package Co 20
Richmond Pressed Brick Co. 250,000 50
Santa Fe Railway Shops — 700
Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Co. 1IHHI
102 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Selby— Selby Smelting & Lead Co $60,000,000 450
Stege — Wheeler, Reynolds & Stauffer 25
Stege Lumber Co 40
Walnut Creek — Cal. Walnut Growers' Assn 35
Walnut Creek Canning Co 35
Tilden Mill & Lumber Co., various plants .. 40
Southern Pacific Railroad Co. 500
Pacific Gas & Electric Co 50
CHAPTER IV
COUNTY OFFICERS
The officers of Contra Costa County, from the time of its organiza-
tion down to the present, are chronologically listed below under their of-
ficial titles.
Senators
1850, W. R. Bascom; 1851, G. B. Tingley; 1852, Jacob Gruwell;
1854, W. H. McCoun; 1856, A. R. Meloney; 1858, G. W. Dent; 1860, A.
Inman; 1862, C. B. Porter; 1867, J. J. Green; 1871, D. Goodale; 1875,
Paul Shirley; 1879, W. H. Sears; 1882, W. B. English; 1884, Frank C.
DeLong; 1886, J. P. Abbott; 1900, C. M. Belshaw; 1908, E. B. Martin-
elli; 1916, J. C. Owens; 1918, W. R. Sharkey.
Assemblymen
1850, Elam Brown; 1851, N. B. Smith; 1852, H. W. Carpenter;
1853, F. M. Warmcastle; 1854, Warren Brown; 1855, A. R. Meloney;
1856, A. Inman; 1857, F. M. Warmcastle; 1858, B. S. Hines; 1859, C.
Yager; 1860, C. B. Porter; 1862, T. B. Wright; 1865, T. A. Brown;
1869, J. H. Carothers; 1871, J. W. Galloway; 1873, A. W. Hammitt;
1875, Charles Wood; 1877, A. J. Young; 1879, D. N. Sherburne; 1880,
]. P. Jones; 1882, G. W. Carter; 1886, D. N. Sherburne; 1890, G. W.
Carter; 1892, H. Hook; 1894, C. M. Belshaw; 1900, M. B. Ivory; 1902,
Henry Ells; 1906, P. C. Campbell; 1908, T. D. Johnson; 1910, M. R.
Jones; 1916, T. D. Johnson; 1918, W. E. Calahan.
District Judges
1850, J. H. Watson; 1851, C. P. Hester; 1853, E. W. McKinstry;
1863, T. A. Brown, 1865, S. H. Dwinnelle, who served until 1879, when
the office was abolished.
County Judges and Superior Judges
1855, R. N. Wood; 1856, T. A. Brown; 1863, Mark Shepard; 1871,
C. W. Lander; 1875, T. A. Brown, who served until 1879, when the of-
fice was abolished and the superior bench was organized, to which he
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 103
was elected, being continued in the office until 1886. He was succeeded
by J. P. Jones, who served until 1900. W. S. Wells was appointed to
succeed Jones, and in 1908 Fred V. Wood succeeded to the office, serving
until 1914, when R. H. Latimer was elected. H. V. Alvarado was ap-
pointed upon the death of Latimer and is still in office. In 1915 Depart-
ment 2 was organized, and A. B. McKenzie was appointed and later
elected, and is still in office.
Associate Justices of Court of Sessions
1850, A. Peak and E. G. Guest. Guest resigned and S. J. Tennent
was appointed August 19, 1850. 1851, B. R. Holliday and A. R. Meloney;
1852, E. G. Weld succeeded Holliday; 1853, G. F. Worth and J. M.
Blood; 1854, J. B. Richardson and L. S. Knowles; 1857, F. Vander-
wenter and Thomas Russell; 1860, R. P. White succeeded Vanderwenter
and that same year the office was abolished.
Justices of the Peace
The county started out in 1850 with six justices of the peace, viz.: B.
R. Holliday, A. Peak, E. G. Guest, S. J. Tennent, J. S. Beemer and Jose
J. Estudillo.
In 1851 Edson Adams succeeded Peak from Brooklyn, and A. R. Me-
loney succeeded Guest
In 1852 William Hillegass succeeded Holliday, G. M. Blake succeed-
ed Adams, S. Baldwin succeeded Meloney, and A. W. Genung succeeded
S. J. Tennent.
In 1853 the following justices were elected: M. Cole, G. F. Worth, P.
M. Lea, J. M. Blood, G. W. Kimball, J. G. Perkins, A. R. Meloney, D.
Hodges.
In 1854 two justices were elected from each newly made district, viz.:
M. Bowen and G. F. Worth, district No. 1 ; G. W. Hammitt.and H. B.
Hale, district No. 2 ; A. B. Bates and L. S. Knowles, district No. 3; S.
Stone and J. F. Alsop, district No. 4; F. Mitchell and S. Pacheco, district
No. 5; and J. B. Richardson and S. Adams, district No. 6.
In 1855 R. A. Madison and G. M. Jones were elected in district No. 1,
M. M. Mentlo and D. Meacham in district No. 2, W. Whipple and J.
Huff in district No. 3, D. P. Smith and S. A. Reeves in district No. 4, R.
Desty and B. Clark in district No. 5, F. Latture and William Wyatt in
district No. 6.
In 1856 L. E. Morgan succeeded Jones in No. 1 ; L. C. Wittenmyer
succeeded Meacham in No. 2, J. L. Bromley and F. Latture succeeded
Whipple and Huff in No. 3, and the extra three townships were consoli-
dated with the first three.
In 1857 George Christian succeeded Madison in No. 1, F. Vander-
wenter succeeded Mentlo in No. 2, L. M. Brown succeeded Wittenmyer in
No. 2, J. C. McMaster and Thomas Russell succeeded Bromley and Lat-
ture in No. 3.
104 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
In 1858 E. F. Weld and Thomas Reynolds were elected in No. 1, F.
Vanderwenter and Joseph Venable in No. 2, J. H. Russell and C. E. Wet-
more in No. 3.
In 1859 A. F. Dyer succeeded Reynolds in No. 1, and J. W. Maxey
and L. M. Brown were elected in No. 2.
In 1860, in No. 2, R. P. White succeeded L. M. Brown and J. W.
Venable succeeded J. W. Maxey; and John Osborne succeeded Russell in
No. 3.
In 1861 H. M. Stanage was elected to succeed Venable in No. 2; P.
Germain and William Girvan were elected in No. 3.
In 1862 the justices were as follows: W. K. Leavitt and George F.
Pease, Twp. No. 1; G. W. Hammitt and James Foster, Twp. No. 2;
J. T. Cruickshank and William Girvan, Twp. No. 3.
In 1864, in Twp. No. 1, O. F. James succeeded Leavitt, and A. F.
Dyer was elected over Pease; H. M. Stanage succeeded Foster in No.
2, and C. P. Marsh and John Phillips were elected in No. 3.
In 1865 the justices were : O. F. James and A. F. Dyer in Twp. No. 1,
G. W. Hammitt and A. W. Hammitt in Twp. No. 2, E. S. Sayles and
J. J. McNulty in Twp. No. 3.
These officers held until the election in 1867, when John C. Dodd and
T. D. Palmer were elected in Twp. No. 1, H. M. Stanage and James
Foster in Twp. No. 2, and J. W. Hook succeeded E. S. Sayles in No. 3.
In 1868 C. W. Lander succeeded Dodd in Twp. No. 1, and the others
were reelected in their various townships.
In 1869 H. Allen and S. C. Wilbur were elected in Twp. No. 1,
John Slitz and Charles Woods in Twp. No. 2, D. Mayon and H. Ashbrook
in Twp. No. 3.
In 1871 W. H. Ford and T. D. Palmer were elected in Twp. No. 1,
and D. S. Carpenter succeeded Mayon in Twp. No. 3. In 1872-1873 Twp.
No. 4 was created, with G. R. Oliver as the justice; the justices from the
other three townships held over.
In 1873 J. R. Young and J. J. Kerr represented Twp. No. 2; G. R.
Oliver and Samuel Bacon, Twp. No. 3 ; D. S. Carpenter and A. Pray, Twp.
No. 4; and D. P. Mahan and D. K. Berry, the new Twp. No. 5.
In 1875 the list reads: W. H. Ford and T. D. Palmer, Twp. No.
1 ; John Slitz and J. J. Kerr, Twp. No. 2 ; G. R. Oliver and Samuel Bacon,
Twp. No. 3; D. S. Carpenter and D. S. Woodruff, Twp. No. 4; A.
Richardson and T. D. Uren, Twp. No. 5.
In 1877 A. Rumrill succeeded Palmer in No. 1, M. H. Turner and
Henry Shuey were elected in No. 2, J. F. Harding succeeded Oliver
in No. 3, James Rankin succeeded Woodruff in No. 4, J. E. W. Carey
succeeded Richardson in No. 5.
In 1879 Henry Hurst succeeded Shuey, R. H. Latimer succeeded
Bacon, A. W. Hall and H. Ingram were elected in No. 4, and J. P.
Abbott and H. B. Jewett in No. 5.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 105
In 1880 W. H. Ford and A. Rumrill held office in Twp. No. 1 ; M.
H. Turner and Charles Woods, in Twp. No. 2; H. J. Wilson and
R. H. Latimer, in Twp. No. 3 ; Robert Hastie and H. Ingram, in Twp.
No. 4; R. Shipley and J. P. Abbott, in Twp. No. 5.
The list for the year 1881-1882 was: M. H. Bailhache and A.
Rumrill, Twp. No. 1 ; M. H. Turner and S. F. Ramage, Twp. No. 2;
H. J. Wilson and J. F. Harding, Twp. No. 3 ; Robert Hastie and A.
W. Wall, Twp. No. 4; J. P. Abbott and J. E. W. Carey, Twp. No. 5.
W. H. Ford, who had held office in Twp. No. 1 for many years, died and
Mr. Bailhache took his place.
In 1882-1883 F. M. Smith succeeded Bailhache and D. D. Wills
succeeded Carey. No. 6 was created and S. F. Ramage was elected.
1884 witnessed a change as well as additional justices. F. M. Smith
held over in No. 1, W. M. Downey succeeded Rumrill, T. S. Braw ana
J. S. Warren were elected in No. 2, M. Turner and G. W. Hammitt in
No. 3, S. F. Ramage and W. J. Perkins in No. 4, J. F. Harding and S. C.
Nichols in No. 5, and R. Hastie and W. Parsons in No. 6; and F. Clifford
and A. W. Wall were elected for the new district No. 7, D. D. Wills
and J. O. Diffin in the new No. 8, J. E. W. Carey and W. K. Doherty in
the new No. 9, and W. J. Duffy and J. Brunson in the new No. 10.
In 1886 the new men in office were: J. H. Livingston, No. 1 ; H. P.
Edwards and J. Casey, No. 2 ; A. B. Harrison, No. 3; W. A. Hammitt
and J. J. Burke, No. 5 ; P. Daley, No. 7 ; B. F. Haney, No. 8 ; and D. N.
Williams, No. 10.
1890 saw many new faces among the justices. D. J. West succeeded
Smith and J. B. Smith succeeded Livingston in No. 1 ; H. P. Edwards held
over; M. W. O'Neill succeeded Casey in No. 2; F. E. Weston succeeded
Harrison in No. 3; G. W. Hammitt held over in No. 3, as did S.
F. Ramage in No. 4; J. A. Shuey was elected over Perkins in No. 4;
W. A. Hammitt and J. J. Burke held over in No. 5 ; William Hawes and
O. N. Rogers succeeded Hastie and Parsons in No. 6 ; Wall held over
and F. Clifford succeeded P. Daley in No. 7 ; W. Gribble and C. F.
Montgomery succeeded Wills and Haney in No. 8 ; J. E. W. Carey held
over and T. E. Middleton succeeded Doherty in No. 9 ; Duffy held over
and H. C. F. Dohrman was elected over Williams in No. 10.
In 1894 the following were elected: No. 1, F. M. Smith and J. B.
Smith; No. 2, J. P. Casey and M. W. O'Neill; No. 3, F. E. Weston and
J. M. Simpson; No. 4, S. F. Ramage and A. E. Clarke; No. 5, W. A.
Hammitt and J. M. Goodale; No. 6, H. McDonald and O. N. Rogers;
No. 7, William Thomas and G. R. Jones; No. 8, William Gribble and N.
A. Tyler; No. 9, C. M. Chapman and L. Arnstroff; No. 10, John
Wilcox and Henry Cocks.
In 1898 the following justices were elected: No. 1, D. S. Carpenter;
No. 2, J. P. Casey; No. 3, N. B. Rogers; No. 4, W. C. Lewis; No. 5,
J. J. Burke; No. 6, O. N. Rogers; No. 7, P. Brown; No. 8, E. Stinch-
106 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
field; No. 9, C. M. Chapman; No. 10, W. Lindsey; No. 11, J. Garrity;
No. 12, T. B. Pratt; No. 13, R. Hastie; No. 14, L. Arnstroff; No. 15,
W. Hough; No. 16, Joel Harlan.
In 1902 D. S. Carpenter and J. P. Casey were reelected in Nos. 1
and 2; W. H. Hough was elected in No. 3 ; S. F. Ramage, No. 4; J. J.
Burke, No. 5; J. Fitzgerald, No. 6; J. J. Dickinson, No. 7 ; A. C.
Hartley, No. 8; C. M. Chapman, No. 9; E. B. Masterson, No. 10;
J. V. Enloe, No. 11; M. W. O'Neill, No. 12; G. Goethels, No. 13;
J. F. Carey, No. 14.
In 1906 the following were elected : C. H. Hayden, No. 1 ; J. P. Casey,
No. 2; W. H. Plough, No. 3 ; A. E. Clark, No. 4; J. J. Burke, No. 5;
J. Fitzgerald, No. 6; A. C. Hartley, No. 8 ; A. W. Callis, No. 9; E. B.
Masterson, No. 10; J. V. Enloe, No. 11; M. W. O'Neill, No. 12;
G. L. Goethels, No. 13; A. J. LeGrand, No. 14; John Roth, No. 15.
District Attorneys
1850, J. F. Williams; 1852, T. T. Bouldin; 1853, H. Mills; 1857,
E. Parker. May 3, 1858, W. W. Theobalds was appointed, vice Parker.
1861, Mark Shepard; 1863, H. MrlkTl875, J. P. Jones; 1877, F. M.
Warmcastle; 1879, Eli R. Chase; 1884, W. S. Tinning; 1894, C. Y.
Brown; 1902, H. V. Alvarado; 1910, A. B. McKenzie, who resigned
to become superior judge in Department 2, January 2, 1915; 1914, T.
D. Johnson; 1918, A. B. Tinning, who is the present incumbent.
County Clerks, Recorders, and (after 1855) Auditors
1850, T. A. Brown; 1855, C. Yager. In .1855 the office of county
auditor was established and combined with those of county clerk and county
recorder under Yager. 1857, L. C. Wittenmyer; 1863, G. P. Loucks;
1867, L. C. Wittenmyer; 1869, A. J. Markley; 1870, L. C. Wittenmyer,
appointed vice Markley, deceased; 1871, G. J. Bennett; 1873, L. C.
Wittenmyer, who served in the three offices combined until 1 875, when each
office was given a separate official.
County Clerks
1875, L. C. Wittenmyer; 1890, F. L. Glass; 1892, L. C. Wittenmyer;
1894, F. L. Glass; 1898, J. E. Rodgers, who served until 1908, when J.
H. Wells was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by his resignation. In
1910 J. H. Wells was elected, and is still in office.
County Auditors
1875, M. H. Bailhache; 1879, J. W. Darby; February 25, 1880, J.
D. Darby, vice J. W. Darby, deceased; 1881, J. D. Darby; 1882, A. J.
Soto; 1886, C. Ed. Curry; 1890, A. J. Soto; 1906, A. N. Sullenger, who
still holds office.
County Recorders
1875, W. B. Russell; 1877, C. Ed. Miller; 1880, J. D. Darby; 1881,
C. Ed. Miller; 1882, Charles S. Cousins; 1894, A. E. Dunkel; 1906,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 107
M. H. Hurley, who held office until his death in 1924. On February 9,
Flora Irene Hurley, his widow, was appointed, and still holds the office.
County Sheriffs
1S50, Nathaniel Tones; 1852, N. Hunsaker; 1853, J. F. S. Smith;
1855, N. Hunsaker; 1857, J. C. Hunsaker; 1861, J. J. McEwen; 1865,
H. Clausen; 1867, R. B. Hard; 1869, W. Brown; 1871, M. B. Ivory;
1875, F. Wilkening; 1877, D. P. Mahan; 1884, James Rankin; 1890, C.
W. Rogers; 1894, R. R. Veale, who has served to the present date.
County Tax Collectors and Treasurers
1850, D. Hunsaker, who resigned April 23, 1853, B. R. Holliday
being appointed in his stead; 1853, Robert E. Borden; 1857, H. Fogg;
March 2, 1861, S. Swain, appointed vice Fogg, deceased; 1861, O. F.
Alley; 1869, J. R. L. Smith. In 1873, the two offices were each supplied,
each with an incumbent. J. R. L. Smith continued as treasurer until 1875.
Tax Collectors
1873, M. B. Ivory; 1875, H. Gallagher; 1879, W. Shuey; October 3,
1881, D. S. Carpenter, vice Shuey, deceased; 1894, H. C. Raap, who
served until G. E. Searcy was elected in 1906. In 1910, M. W. Joost was
elected, and is still serving.
County Treasurers
1875, A. Tyler; 1877, R. D. Hathaway; 1890, P. L. Roberts; 1894, J.
O. Sherburne; 1898, R. L. Ulsh; 1902, T. A. Wiley, who served until
1910, when L. N. Buttner was elected. He died in 1913 and was succeeded
by J. R. Baker, who in turn was succeeded by C. L. Dodge, the present
incumbent.
County Assessors
1850, N. B. Smith; 1852, L. H. Hastings; 1853, J. M. Jones; 1855,
O. F. Alley; 1857, J. F. S. Smith; 1859, J. J. White; 1861, N. J. Clark;
1863, Philip Sage; 1865, F. A. Matthews, who resigned August 2, 1869,
J. L. Bromley being appointed in his stead; 1869, James Foster; 1879,
J. N. Stow; 1886, F. Williams; 1894, H. T. Jones; 1910, G. O. Meese,
who is still serving.
Public Administrators
1852, W. W. Chipman; 1853, N. Jones; 1854, J. A. Morgan; 1855,
George Langdon ; 1857, M. R. Barber; 1859, B. R. Holliday; 1861,
M. R. Barber; 1863, D. S. Woodruff; 1865, J. E. Stevens; 1867, D.
Small. He resigned August 8, 1868, and B. R. Holliday was appointed.
1869, R. B. Brock; March 19, 1872, E. W. Heller, appointed vice Brock,
deceased; 1881, J. W. Guy; 1884, E. W. Heller; 1886, G. H. Scammon;
May, 1891, Charles Wood appointed vice Scammon, deceased; 1894,
F. W. Gunther; 1898, J. Bendixen; 1902, M. H. Hurley; 1910, C. E.
Daley; 1922, Raymond Johnson, who is still in office.
108 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
County Coroners
In 1855 the office of county coroner was formally established and
William Armstrong was elected. He resigned and L. H. Hastings was
appointed January 14, 1856. These followed: 1856, W. A. J. Gift;
March 2, 1857, J. F. S. Smith appointed to fill vacancy; 1857, J. M.
Sutton; 1858, John Tennent; June 9, 1859, C. H. Ruggles appointed
vice Tennent; November 8, 1859, E. T. Hough, appointed; 1860, J. L.
Labaree; 1861, H. H. Fassett; 1863, E. T. Hough; 1866, J. H. Caro-
thers; 1869, C. A. Ruggles; 1871, J. H. Livingston; 1875, E. W. Hiller.
In 1875 the office was combined with that of public administrator and E.
W. Hiller was elected to the two offices; he was succeeded by J. W. Guy
in 1879. In 1884 the offices again became separated and J. W. Guy
was succeeded by W. Dunnigan; 1886, J. W. Guy; 1890, H. J. Curry;
1892, J. C. McMaster; 1894, H. J. Curry; 1906, C. L. Abbott; May,
1918, Bert Curry appointed vice C. L. Abbott; 1918, C. F. Donnelly, who
was succeeded by Aubrey Wilson in 1926.
County Surveyors
1850, W. Brown; 1853, T. M. Aull; 1855, D. Small; 1859, George
Vosberg; January 2, 1860, J. B. Abbott, vice Dixon, resigned; Decem-
ber 2, 1861, K. W. Taylor was appointed, vice Abbott; 1861, John
Doherty; 1862, K. W. Taylor; 1867, T. A. Talleyrand; 1871, Robert
Hunt; 1873, R. Eddy; 1875, R. M. Jones; September 16, 1879, T. A.
McMahon, vice Jones; 1880, T. A. McMahon; 1890, Elam C. Brown;
1892, T. A. McMahon; 1894, Elam C. Brown; 1914, R. R. Arnold,
who still holds the office.
Superintendents of Schools
1855, J. Vandermark; January 6, 1856, Thomas Ewing, vice Vander-
mark, resigned; 1856, J. M. Jones; 1857, E. H. Cox; 1859, A. F. Dyer;
1861, D. S. Woodruff; 1863, J. F. S. Smith; March 19, 1864, H. R.
Avery, vice Smith, resigned; 1864, H. R. Avery; 1867, A. Thurber; 1871,
H. S. Raven; 1873, A. Thurber; 1877, E. Wemple; 1879, A. A. Bailey;
1886, W. A. Kirkwood; 1894, A. M. Phalin; 1902, A. A. Bailey; 1906,
W. H. Hanlon, who is still in office.
County Commissioner and County Physicians
In 1898 L. C. Wittenmyer was elected county commissioner.
On February 8, 1872, C. R. Holbrook was appointed county physician.
On August 5, 1874, J. H. Carothers was appointed county physician
vice Holbrook.
In 1898 C. E. Brown was elected county physician.
There appear to have been no further elections to these offices until
1922, when E. Merrithew was elected county physician.
County Supervisors
In 1851 the board of supervisors came into being, S. L. Robinson, Vic-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 109
tor Castro, Robert Farrelly, William Patten, and T. J. Reefer being
elected.
In 1852 C. Lund succeeded Castro, and E. W. Winn succeeded Far-
relly.
In 1853 an entire new board was elected, viz. : A. W. Genung, Joseph
Martin, C. W. Ish, I. Hunsaker and J. C. McMaster, who were to serve
two years.
In 1855 the county was districted into three districts and two men
were elected from each, viz.: No. 1, J. H. Livingston and T. A. Brown;
No. 2, L. E. Morgan and N. Jones; No. 3, W. R. Bishop and C. E.
Wetherbee.
In 1856 J. Emeric from No. 1, Ira J. True from No. 2, and A. Olm-
stead from No. 3 succeeded Livingston, Morgan and Bishop.
In 1857 J. L. Bromley succeeded Olmstead in No. 3; in 1860 J. T.
Walker succeeded Bromley in No. 3; in 1861 G. H. Barrett succeeded
Emeric in No. 1 ; in 1862 J. R. L. Smith succeeded True in No. 2; in 1863
R. G. Davis succeeded Walker in No. 3; in 1864 J. Tewksbury succeed-
ed Barrett in No. 1 ; in 1865 D. N. Sherburne succeeded Smith in No. 2;
in 1866 R. B. Hard succeeded Davis in No. 3; in 1867 John Tormey suc-
ceeded Tewksbury in No. 1; in 1868 R. H. Wright succeeded Hard in
No. 3; in 1872 P. Walker succeeded Wright; in 1873 G. P. Loucks suc-
ceeded Walker in No. 3; P. Walker was elected from the new district
No. 4, and J. C. McMaster from No. 5.
In 1877 Patrick Tormey succeeded John Tormey in No. 1, and W.
Renwick succeeded Sherburne in No. 2. In 1878 W. B. English succeeded
Loucks in No. 3; in 1880 D. N. Sherburne succeeded Renwick in No. 2;
in 1882 T. E. Middleton succeeded Sherburne in No. 2, B. F. Beebe was
elected over English in No. 3, and W. Nellis succeeded Walker in No. 4.
In 1884 John Galindo succeeded Beebe in No. 3, P. Walker was again
returned in No. 4, and Martin Flynn succeeded McMaster in No. 5. J.
D. Bowen died in 1885 and P. Brown was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In 1886 J. Kelly succeeded Middleton in No. 2, and C. J. Clayton
succeeded Walker in No. 4. In 1892 J. M. Stow was elected in No. 2 in
place of Kelly, and M. B. Ivory in place of Flynn in No. 5. In 1894 A.
Rumrill was elected over Tormey in No. 1, and D. F. Majors over Gal-
indo in No. 3.
In 1896 William Hemme was elected in No. 1, Paul de Martini in
No. 2, and J. D. Wightman in No. 3. In 1898 P. Tormey was elected in
No. 1, William Hemme in No. 2, E. J. Randall in No. 3, Paul de Martini
in No. 4, and J. D. Wightman in No. 5. In 1900 J. M. Stow was elected
in No. 2, Paul de Martini in No. 4, and J. D. Wightman in No. 5. In
1902 P. Tormey was elected in No. 1, and E. J. Randall in No. 3. In 1904
R. Harrison was elected in No. 2, W. J. Buchanan in No. 4, and J. H. Try-
thall in No. 5. In 1906 V. Hook was elected in No. 3. In 1908 Charles
Rihn was elected in No. 1, and J. P. Casey in No. 2. In 1914
110 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Zeb Knott was elected in No. 1, and in 1918 C. H. Hayden was elected
in No. 3. Casey served until his death in 1923, and in April, 1923,
Oscar Olsson was appointed his successor.
The members of the board of supervisors at the present time (1926)
are: For district No. 1, Zeb Knott; for No. 2, Oscar Olsson; for No. 3,
C. H. Hayden; for No. 4, W. J. Buchanan; for No. 5, R. J. Trembath.
CHAPTER V
MARTINEZ
The town of Martinez had its beginning in 1849, when Col. William
M. Smith, then acting as agent for the Martinez heirs, decided to lay out
a townsite. As early as 1823, Ignacio Martinez and Francisco Castro
applied for and were granted the Pinole and San Pablo Ranchos, com-
prising many leagues of land. They erected adobe houses and barns, be-
gan planting trees and vines, and became the first fruit and grape growers
in Contra Costa County. There were no roads, only trails through the
valleys and over the hills; however, other families followed the example
of these two pioneers and established homes for themselves. These two
pioneer families were the center of all local social gatherings, and a typi-
cal Spanish hospitality was always extended by them and their neighbors.
In 1832 William Welch secured title to a tract of land known as the
Las Juntas Rancho, on which a portion of the city of Martinez now stands.
In 1849 Col. William M. Smith secured the services of T. A. Brown to
survey and lay out a town on 120 acres on the west side of El Hambre
Creek. Lots sold rapidly, and soon buildings were in the course of con>
struction. The first building was the house of Dr. Leffler, erected by
Nicholas Hunsaker. T. A. Brown built the second structure and, with
his brother Warren and N. B. Smith, opened and conducted the first trad>
ing post in the county. Boorman and Dana also had a store in 1849, as
did Howard & Wells; the latter was managed by one Howard Havens.
That same year the Bradley house was completed, and N. Jones erected
a cottage next to the Berryessa adobe. Dr. Tennent was the first physi-
cian and Seeley Bennett the first livery stable man in the town.
In 1850-1851 T. A. Brown surveyed the first addition to the new
town, under orders from the owners of the Welch Rancho, El Hambre
Creek being the dividing line. There were over 500 acres in this tract,
and the first buildings were the residences of Messrs. Lawless, Wise,
Douglas, McMahon, and Bolton. It is well to mention that the Douglas
home was the office of the first county clerk. There was also erected
the office of the Contra Costa News, the first newspaper in the county.
VIEWS OF MARTINEZ IN 1868. TAKEN FROM TOP OF COURT HOUSE
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 111
In 1850 a negro named Jones opened the first eating house on the site
of the Alhambra Hotel. In 1851 Teodoro Soto built an adobe home, la-
ter known as the Hickman adobe.
The first school was started in a house later occupied by T. A. Brown.
The school room was also the meeting place of the court when in session;
also church services were held in it on Sundays. The Masonic lodge met
in the rooms in the second story. B. R. Holliday was the first school teach-
er in the town of Martinez, where he conducted a private school, and R.
B. McNair is on record as the second teacher, and the first public school
teacher.
In 1852 the Union Hotel was built. This was run by R. E. Borden,
who was also the county treasurer.
A petition was circulated and presented to the court of sessions to
have the town incorporated, which was done, and the election was held on
February 5, 1851, for the first board of trustees. Not long thereafter the
supreme court held that the act under which the incorporation was made
was void; and as the costs necessary to another election were deemed ex-
cessive by the citizens, the matter was dropped, to be revived again in
1876, when the incorporation became an actuality.
On August 2, 1852, the first execution took place, when Jose Antonio
was hanged for the murder of A. Morales on May 29, 1852. He was
taken to the edge of the village and hanged from the limb of a sycamore.
The second execution in Contra Costa County was that of a man
named Monroe, who murdered a Mr. Briggs near Marsh's Landing. He
was hanged from the limb of a tree near the old Martinez school building
in September, 1854. The third hanging took place in the jail yard at Mar-
tinez, when Manuel Juarez was executed for the murder of Elizabeth
Robinson, an aged women who lived alone. He was hanged on July 28,
1867, declaring he was innocent.
The Methodist Episcopal church was established in 1854; the Episco-
pal in 1855 ; and in 1866 a Sunday school and library were established by
the Episcopalians; and their church was built in 1869, as noted later.
On September 18, 1858, the Contra Cos-ta Gazette was established as
a weekly newspaper and the first paper was issued by W. B. Soule & Com-
pany. This paper withstood the ravages of time and never missed an issue
in sixty-eight years. The complete files of the paper are the repository
of much of the real history of Contra Costa County found in this book.
W. B. Soule & Company were in turn succeeded by C. R. K. Bonnard and
B. E. Hillman. On February 26, 1859, W. Bradford bought the paper;
on April 28, 1860, he sold a half-interest to R. R. Bunker, and on March
23, 1861, sold the balance to W. W. Theobalds. The paper was moved
to the fast-growing town of Pacheco in 1861, which was then the grain-
shipping center. In 1865 C. B. Porter bought out Theobalds' interest. In
1871 a disastrous fire completely destroyed the plant, and in November,
1873, it was moved back to Martinez, its present site. On March 3, 1882,
F. K. Foster purchased a third interest. On November 3, 1883, Porter
112 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
sold out to Bunker and Foster, and on August 27, 1887, T. S. Davenport
bought out Foster. It appeared as a semi-weekly on January 4, 1888. On
October 3, of that year, James Foster purchased a half-interest from
Davenport, but this was sold to W. C. Brown after Foster's death. On
January 7, 1893, the paper was restored to a weekly. In 1898 Brown
sold to G. E. Milnes, and in 1907 Milnes sold to W. A. Rugg, who had
established the first successful daily paper in Martinez, the Daily Press,
on March 1, 1900. Four years later the Press was sold to the Gazette
Publishing Company and the name was changed to the Daily Gazette.
Mr. Rugg still owns the paper.
The California Express was published in 1867 by Alex Montgomery,
and continued for nearly two years.
J. W. Collier started the Enterprise in 1871. It was a Democratic
sheet, printed in San Francisco. It only lived a snort time.
The Contra Costa News was established in Pacheco in 1873, was
removed to Martinez in 1877, and is now one of the influential weeklies
of the county.
The Martinez Daily Standard and the Contra Costa Standard are
published in conjunction by the Contra Costa Publishing Company. The
daily was established in 1911.
Martinez and Benicia were joined by telegraph on April 8, 1859, and
that same year Mette & Company established the first stage line between
Martinez and Oakland. On September 17, 1860, the Martinez Engine
Company was organized. In May, 1867, Coffin & Standish erected
the first flouring mill. On February 4, 1871, the Martinez Hook &
Ladder Company was organized, and on September 5 of that year the
Martinez Water Company was incorporated. The new bridge over Al-
hambra Creek was opened to traffic on November 13, 1875.'
Grace Episcopal Church was built in 1869, E. P. Gray serving as the
first pastor. On June 18, 1874, the Congregational Church was organ-
ized with W. S. Clark as the first pastor.
In 1876 agitation was renewed for reincorporating the city, and on
May 23 the election for city officers was held. The boundaries of the
town as finally incorporated were as follows: "Beginning at a point where
the fence dividing the lands of J. P. Jones and L. I. Fish touches the
Straits of Carquinez, thence southwardly along said fence and continuing
same course to the line of the homestead tract of H. Bush; thence westerly
along the north line of Bush's homestead tract to Arroyo del Hambre ;
thence southerly along said Arroyo to the center of G Street, to the western
boundary of the town of Martinez as originally surveyed; thence north-
wardly following the western boundary of the town plat to the Straits
of Carquinez, to place of beginning." In July, 1880, the population of
Martinez was 875.
In 1879 the Bush property was purchased for a Catholic college, which
was later built by the Christian Brothers and given the name of De La
Salle Institute. In 1850-1851 the Catholics used Brown's store for church
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 113
services. They then began an adobe building, but never completed it. In
November, 1858, they erected a church, which blew down in 1866; then
another, the present building, was erected.
Shirley & Mizner operated a ferry between Benicia and Martinez,
landing at the foot of Ferry Street, so named. In 1878 they sold out to
the Northern Railway Company, and this company, with the San Pablo
and Tulare Railway Company, constructed the first railroad through the
city of Martinez.-
In 1882 the Martinez Packing Company was established; and a sal-
mon cannery was also operated by Joseph Black, both at a time when the
fishing industry meant much to the town. The Pacific Coast Steel & Iron
Manufacturing Company was built in 1884.
In 1887, B. Fernandez erected the Martinez Hotel on the site of the
Morgan House, which had burned down; the property had been bought
up by Fernandez. In 1887, also, the Martinez Electric Light & Gas
Company was organized.
Several fires have devastated Martinez, and mention is here made
of the more destructive ones. In September, 1856, the Union Hotel and
Blum's, Lazar's and Hook's stores were burned. In July, 1867, fire de-
stroyed the Gift mansion. On December 12, 1876, several buildings at
the southwest corner of Main and Ferry Streets were burned; on March
16, 1877, the residence of Mrs. Chase; on January 6, 1878, Granger's
Restaurant; and on March 8, 1880, the Alhambra schoolhouse. The next
serious conflagration was the disastrous fire of August 19, 1904, when
over half the business houses were burned and two entire blocks were
laid in ashes, with the greatest financial loss the city ever experienced.
Again, a fire occurred on July 16, 1925, that burned several business places
on the corner opposite from the one above mentioned.
The earthquake of October 21, 1868, did considerable damage. It
razed two walls of the Alhambra Hotel, threw down the walls of the
court house, top and rear, and did minor damages to many smaller build-
ings. On April 18, 1906, slight damage was done to chimneys, but other-
wise the city experienced no harm.
The buildings constructed in the last two decades have been modern
in every respect. The county hospital building was built at a cost of $70,-
000, in 1910. The city hall was built in 1911. The court house, costing
$600,000, was erected of granite in 1901. The Alhambra High School
was erected in 1904, and the grammar school in 1909.
The Alhambra Water Company, established in 1903, began bottling
water piped from the famous Alhambra Springs, and shipping to various
parts of the country.
The Mococo, or Mountain Copper Company, established its smelting
plant here in 1905. It employs 400 men, with a payroll of $500,000 an-
nually. The California Transportation Company built a wharf and be-
gan making regular calls at Martinez in 1909. In 1911 the city estab-
lished its municipal wharf under a bond issue.
114 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
In 1911 the Pacific Gas & Electric Company bought out the Contra
Costa Electric Light & Power Company; and the Great Western Power
Company entered this field in 1913. The Contra Costa Gas Company was
established in 1915. The Martinez-Benicia Ferry was established in 1913.
In 1914 the city experienced its first real boom, when the Shell Oil
Company chose Martinez as the site for the central base of their future
operations. Hundreds of families settled in the town, homes began spring-
ing up everywhere, and the business district enlarged accordingly. The
Shell Company bought the Cutler, Potter and Arnstein properties, com-
prising about 400 acres adjoining the city, and began by erecting a $5,-
000,000 oil refinery and employing some 2000 men. From that date to
the present time the policy of the company has been one of expansion,
and this has meant prosperity for the entire city. The Shell Company was
followed by the Associated Oil Company.
The streets are all paved, many miles of sidewalks built of cement have
been installed, and the water mains have been extended to all the addi-
tions. The State Highway traverses the county via the Tunnel Road to
Berkeley, and also via Franklin Canyon and Pinole.
CHAPTER VI
RICHMOND
By Clarence A. Odell
The first inhabitants of Richmond and the surrounding country were of
a prehistoric race, as we learn by investigation of the Indian or shell
mounds, of which there are several located/in this county. Among those
in this vicinity is the one at the mouth of Wild Cat Creek; a larger one
just behind the Mastersen Hotel at San Pablo, about 300 feet north from
the old Alvarado Hacienda; and another that was occupied by the house
of Antone Luis, not far from the San Pablo station of the Southern Pacific
Railroad; but the most important of them all is the one at Ellis Landing.
These shell mounds, or "kitchen middens," as they are sometimes
designated by scientists, who are much interested in them because of
the anthropological and historic facts which they disclose, are composed
of the accretions of centuries of tribal life. All the offal, refuse and debris,
as well as burials of generations succeeding generations, have, from the
dead level, built up mounds that represent alike the abodes and the his-
tory of the dusky t aborigines.
The Ellis Landing shell mound is situated east from Ellis Landing,
on the northwest shore of San Francisco Bay proper, directly north of
Brooks' Island. It is mostly submerged and imbedded in an average of
about thirteen feet of fine silt, but rests on a firm gravel foundation. The
mound has a roughly triangular outline. With the shore as a base, it
stretches out about 300 feet. The greatest height above the marsh level
MACDONALD AVENUE. RICHMOND. 1925
RICHMOND IN 19 00
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 115
was seventeen feet, and the greatest depth below the marsh level, about
sixteen feet.
Scientists who have investigated this mound have been unable to fix its
age. Some state that it is probably 3500 years old; others venture no
opinion further than to say it is prehistoric. It is made up of charcoal
ashes and shells, of which there were four hundred varieties. In it were
found implements, weapons and ornaments already totaling some 630
specimens. Many skeletons have also been unearthed from it. In the
graves of the males were found charm stones, obsidian blades and smaller
weapons. In the graves of the women were found mortars, pestles and
awls; while the infants' graves had in each a handful of disk beads made
from the obivelle shell, or pendants of abalone shells.
This mound, like others, was built simply of refuse, and besides being
a conspicuous archaeological feature, furnishes incontestible evidence of
having survived considerable subsidence of the Bay country, which occurred
subsequent to the arrival of primitive man; and it was for these reasons
especially investigated by the Department of Anthropology of the Uni-
versity of California. It would seem that it was the custom of these early
Richmondites to emigrate to the mountains during the summer to fatten
on the berries, pine nuts, acorns and wild game then so freely supplied by
nature; and that on the approach of winter they came back to their tepees
along or near the bay shore and drew upon the sea for their winter food.
From some unknown cause this race of people became extinct; and it is
only from the mounds which they left as monuments in this region that
we may have any conception of the story of their existence.
Richmond, with a population of 27,000 and an assessed valuation of
$27,000,000, is the largest city in Contra Costa County. It is situate on
the northeast of a low range of hills formerly known as the "Potrero de
San Pablo" (pasture of the San Pablo Rancho), which forms the headland
of a broad peninsula projecting from the easterly or mainland shore of
the Bay of San Francisco. This peninsula and headland separates San
Francisco Bay from San Pablo Bay and the bodies of water above it, viz.:
Carquinez Straits, Suisun Straits, Suisun Bay and the deltas of the two
great interior rivers of the State, the Sacramento and San Joaquin.
The earliest available record of Richmond and its immediate vicinity
is contained in the diary of Rev. Father Crespi, the historian of the first
expedition to explore the eastern shore of the Bay of San Francisco, in
1772. In this diary he states that the expedition camped on Cerrito Creek
(the county line at El Cerrito, the boundary between Contra Costa and
Alameda Counties), where they "killed a fat bear and enjoyed a supply of/
fresh meat"; the next day, marching on (through what is now Richmond),
they "viewed the second arm of the sea or large round bay" (San Pablo
Bay). There they noticed a large whale disporting itself, and "therefore
infer that this bay is sufficiently deep for large vessels."
From 1772 until April, 1823, there seems to be little, if any, authentic
history of this locality; but on April 15, 1823, Francisco Castro presented
116 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
to the Provincial Assembly (Deputation) of Alta California a memorial
stating, that "being the owner of large herds of horned cattle and horses,"
he finds himself under the necessity, in order to preserve the cattle which
he now possesses, and may hereafter possess, and in order to provide for
the maintenance of his numerous family, to solicit of the Assembly that a
piece or tract of land be given to him for the purpose of fixing his estab-
lishment, and asking that it would be pleased to concede to him the "pos-
session of three square leagues [sitios] in the place called 'Los Cuchi-
gunes,' or 'San Pablo,' " and praying that there be given to him the "cor-
responding possession and ownership of this land, as it may be proper in
the premises" for his protection and that of his succession; and thereon
the Assembly made the following decree :
"Monterey, April 15th, 1823.
"The Honorable Assembly [Deputation] grants to the claimant the
piece of land which he solicits, measuring three square leagues, consider-
ing the said claimant entitled to said favor for his services, his known
probity and the abundance of stock which he possesses, for which purpose
the Government appoints the Commander of the Presidio of San Fran-
cisco for the measurement, and giving him possession of the lands for
which he petitions."
Said decree was signed "Arguello" and countersigned "Jose Joaquin
de la Torre, Secretary." i ^'«>
On April 15, 1823, Louis Antonio Arguello, whose name is signed to
the foregoing decree, was President of the Provincial Assembly (Deputa-
tion) of Alta California and was acting as Governor of California.
On January 1, 1827, the said Francisco Castro presented to the Com-
mander-in-Chief (Sehor Comandante General) of the Californias a peti-
tion stating that he had, on said 15th day of April, 1823, presented to the
said Provincial Assembly the said memorial, and that the Assembly had
made to him the said order or decree.
The said petition of January 1, 1827, further contained the following:
"Considering that to the present time the foregoing decree has not been
complied with, the reason therefor being unknown to me, I present myself
to you in order that, making use of the powers with which you are invested,
you will be pleased to give the orders necessary for the purpose of having
the foregoing decree enforced. . . .
"Wherefore I respectfully pray that, taking my petition into considera-
tion, you will be pleased to order all that which you will deem pertinent
and reasonable, which favor will, I hope, be granted to me."
On the margin of this petition the following order was made by the
Commander-in-Chief of the Californias:
"Port of San Diego, January 29th, 1827.
"The Commander of San Francisco will be pleased to report why the
right of possession within referred to was not given."
On July 27, 1827, the said Francisco Castro presented a petition to
the Commander-in-Chief and Political Chief (Comandante General y
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 117
Gefe Superior Politico) of California, which petition begins as follows:
"Francisco Castro, owner of the Rancho San Pablo, respectfully pre-
sents himself to you, and in due form of law exposes," and proceeds to
set forth, "that during four years he has been in possession of said place as
shown by the document respectfully presented to your Honor herewith;
and as in this document, issued by the Most Excellent Deputation, it
appears that it decrees and commands that due possession be given me,
and requires the Commander of San Francisco to do so; that though that
gentleman notifies me for the purpose of giving me said possession, as I
was at that time a member of said Deputation, and was then called to
Monterey on public service, I could not obey said summons, and as from
that day to this I have not as yet been able to settle this matter, I now
have recourse to the well known justice of your Excellency, requesting
that you should be plesaed to order that due possession of said tract of
land be given me."
The petition further states that he has "already built upon said land a
walled house, having a stone fence measuring 40 varas to the other
wooden ones, and planted a garden with many fruit trees therein and a
vineyard containing upwards of one thousand stalks of vines, built a mill,
and sowed thirty fanegas of wheat, and one-half a fanega of corn and
beans each"; that he has "six hundred head of cattle, and five hundred
horses, more or less"; that the tract of land "runs along the bank of the
creek [estero] and shores of the bay [mar] of San Francisco, from north
to northwest from where it bounds with the Rancho of the Sergeant Luis
Peralta."
The "walled house" above referred to was built on or near the south-
erly banks of Wild Cat Creek, just a little east of the present San Pablo
Avenue. The old adobe house, which has been more or less improved, and
is still standing east of San Pablo Avenue, just a little north of El Cerrito
Creek (the boundary between Alameda and Contra Costa Counties), was
built by Victor Castro, one of the sons of Don Francisco Castro.
On January 30, 1828, Castro again presented his petition to be placed
in possession of said land; and on May 10, 1830, he presented another,
his fifth petition to be put in possession of the land sought, and which
recites that he therefore renews his claim that due possession be given
him of the said tract, and that the amount expended, and the improve-
ments made by his family on the said land "be taken into united
action — the same consists of a house measuring ten varas, and having good
foundations, one thousand stalks of vines, and sundry other plants.
"And in order that this claim be attended with full knowledge of the
facts, and justice rendered me in the present instance, I will add that I am
fifty-five years of age; am married and have ten children; was born in the
town of Cinaloa, in the District of Sonora, which was founded by my
father; that 1 was for thirteen years a soldier and corporal in the Mexican
artillery; and that I have belonging to me on the tract which I occupy one
118 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
thousand four hundred head of cattle, six hundred sheep and five hundred
horses."
On this last petition the following marginal decree was made by the
Political Chief of Alta California :
"Monterey, 26th May, 1830.
"Let claimant add to his petition a plan [diseho] showing the confor-
mation, extent, and all other important particulars relating to the tract
of land claimed by him."
Don Francisco Maria Castro died on November 5, 1831, before any
other proceedings were had, leaving a widow, Gabriela Berryessa Castro,
seven sons and four daughters surviving him.
On May 26, 1834, Joaquin Ysidro Castro, the son and first executor
of the will of said Francisco Castro, presented to the "Political Chief" a
petition, stating that in consequence of the death of his father, who had
instituted him the heir (heredero) of a portion of his property and
guardian of that of his brothers, "as results from the Testament, a copy
of which is archived in this Capitol," ... he solicits the lawful owner-
ship of a tract of land named San Pablo.
The petition proceeds in the following words: "a plan of which I here-
with present, together with a copy of the first petition for said tract, pre-
sented by my father, dated the 15th day of April, 1823, and copy of the
Gubernatorial decree of the same date," and states, "the same having
remained without effect, I hereby reiterate the petition, imploring of your
Honor the proper documents for the security of the stock which occupies
the aforesaid place."
Governor Jose Figueroa, on June 12, 1834, at Monterey, made a
decree and grant, reciting: "Whereas the late Francisco Maria Castro has
had granted to him [tiene concedido] by the Most Excellent Territorial
Deputation, since the 15th of April, 1823, the land known under the name
of Los Cuchigunes or San Pablo, bounded by the Ranchos of San Antonio
and El Pinole, and by a portion of the Bay of San Francisco; and whereas,
his successors [herederos] subsequently applied for the lawful ownership
thereof. . . .
"Now, therefore, using the powers with which I am intrusted, and in
the name of the Mexican Nation by decree of this day, I do grant to the
said successors the above mentioned land, declaring the same to be
their property," etc., subject to the usual conditions, the fourth one being
as follows :
"Fourth. — The land of which mention is made is of three square
leagues, more or less, according to the diseho which accompanied the
expediente granted to them. The Judge who will put them in possession
shall cause it to be measured according to law, so that the boundaries
may be marked out, the surplus, if any, reverting to the Nation for such
uses> as may be proper."
On June 23, 1835, the said Joaquin Y. Castro presented to the
"Political Chief" a petition for an augmentation of the San Pablo Rancho,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 119
reciting: "I have already solicited from your Excellency the legitimate
possession of the Rancho San Pablo which we, the heirs of my deceased
father, actually occupied, as I have already stated in my first petition, but
through inadventence have neglected to ask for the extent of land included
in the plan annexed thereto, and have said that I asked for the three
square leagues which we anciently occupied. . . .
"This piece of land being rather small for the number of cattle grazing
on the same, which number we are exerting ourselves to increase, I solicit
you, in the name of the other heirs, and as their attorney in fact, that said
petition be understood to include with the three leagues which we occupied
the augmentation of the land described in the aforesaid diseho."
On August 14, 1835, Governor Figueroa made an order which recited
that "Considering the petition at the beginning of this expediente, and the
grant [concession] which was obtained on the 15th day of April, 1823,
from the most Excellent Territorial Deputation, the subsequent petition
which was made on the 23rd day of June of the present year, praying for
the amplification of a little more than a square league according to the
diseho marked No. 2, and also such other additional documents as were
furnished in conformity with the law and regulations in such cases made
and provided, I hereby declare Don Francisco Maria Castro the lawful
owner in full property, and by his demise his successors, of the tract of
land known under the name of Los Cuchigunes or San Pablo, bounded by
the Ranchos of San Antonio and El Pinole, and by a portion of the Port
of San Francisco. I order that a good and sufficient title be made out and
that the same be- registered in the proper record book; that it be delivered
to the testamentary executor and heir, Joaquin Ysidro Castro, for all
necessary purposes, and that the expediente thereof be archived."
"I, Don Jose Figueroa, general of brigade of the Mexican republic,
commander in general, inspector, and political chief of the territory of
Upper California, so order and decree, and in faith thereof hereunto affix
my name.
"Jose Figueroa,
"F'co Del Castillo Negrete, Secretary."
On August 20, 1835, a grant was made by said Jose Figueroa in the
same terms as said grant of 1834 for the whole property, including the
augmentation, to the successors of Francisco Maria Castro, and declar-
ing the same to be their property.
On May 22, 1840, the expediente was presented to the Departmental
Assembly, and the same was approved by the Assembly on May 30, 1840.
On October 9, 1852, the said Joaquin Ysidro Castro, as "Adminis-
trator with the will annexed of the estate of Francisco Maria Castro,"
filed with the United State Land Commissioners to ascertain and settle
private land claims in the State of California, under the Act of Congress
of March 3, 1851, a petition for the confirmation of said grant. After
other recitals in said petition appears the following: "Petitioner further
represents that said Francisco was married to Gabriela Berryessa, and
120 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
died in the year 1831, leaving surviving him his wife and eleven children,
the issue of said marriage being Alvina, Maria de Jesus, Maria, Francisca,
Martina, Antonio, Juan Jose, Gabriel, Victor, Jesus Maria, and petitioner,
(Joaquin Ysidro Castro). That the said Francisco left a will signed,
attested, and published according to law, whereby he devised and be-
queathed to his wife one undivided half of his land and other property, the
other half to his said children to be equally divided between them. That
said Martina Castro has intermarried with Juan B. Alvarado." . . .
"That since the death of Francisco first aforesaid, his said children, Alvina,
Maria de Jesus, and Maria died without issue, and their share of said land
descended to their said mother, who thereupon became the absolute owner
of fourteen twenty-seconds (14/22) of all of said land.
"That afterwards, on the 4th day of August, 1851, said Gabriela
Berryessa de Castro, by deed executed the day and year aforesaid, in con-
sideration of the natural love and affection for her said daughter, Martina
Castro de Alvarado, gave and conveyed to said Martina all the said inter-
est (14/22) of her, the said Gabriela, to and in said land. That said
Martina thereupon became entitled to fifteen twenty-seconds (15/22) of
all the land aforesaid."
On April 17, 1855, the claim of petitioner was confirmed and adjudged
to be valid. Such further proceedings were had that the claim was finally
confirmed by the proper United States District Court, the land was sur-
veyed and the final survey was approved on August 17, 1864, by Hon.
Ogden Hoffman, United States district judge. According to this final sur-
vey the rancho contained 17,938.58 acres, a patent for which was on Janu-
ary 31, 1873, executed and issued by the United States.
The above-mentioned deed from the widow, Gabriela Berryessa de
Castro, to her daughter Martina Castro de Alvarado was recorded on
September 9, 1851, in the office of the county recorder of Contra Costa
County. It was the cause of considerable dissatisfaction among the re-
maining heirs of Don Francisco Castro, and was one of the reasons for
the protracted litigation which involved the title of this magnificent tract
of land. A proceeding was begun in the Probate Court of Contra Costa
County, to set aside and annul the will of Don Francisco, in August, 1852,
more than twenty years after his death, and on October 30, 1852, a judg-
ment setting aside the order admitting the will to probate was entered;
but in 1856, on the second appeal to the Supreme Court, the will was
again declared to be valid.
From time to time the various heirs sold off portions of their holdings,
in some instances attempting to convey a complete title, while in others the
conveyance called for an undivided interest. The title thus became so in-
volved that none of those claiming an interest in the rancho knew exactly
what he owned. There were various suits and disputes, and efforts made
to effect a settlement; and in 1856 an agreement for or deed of partition
was formally drawn up, between parties of nine parts. By it three disin-
terested parties, viz., James Alexander Forbes, John B. R. Cooper and
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 121
Nicholas Gray, were named and appointed to make partition of the
rancho, and to that end to make the necessary survey, map, and report,
which were to be filed for record among the land records of Contra Costa
County "with this deed of partition and release, the whole to take effect
when so filed and recorded, and not before."
This instrument purports to have been executed and acknowledged by
nearly all the parties to it. The survey, map and report were made, and
the deed, etc., were filed and recorded on August 28, 1857.
Nicholas Gray, one of the above named commissioners, was at that
time a deputy United States surveyor, and the map and report he made,
dated September IS, 1856, places the acreage of said grant at 29,941, of
which 2,470 acres were marsh land; but the final report of the referees
in partition of the San Pablo Rancho, which was incorporated in the final
decree of partition, signed by Judge J. C. B. Hubbard, March 3, 1894,
places it at 17,628.15 acres.
It may be of interest, in passing, to note that on October 10, 1853, one
of Don Francisco's sons, Juan Jose Castro, and his wife mortgaged to
Thomas J. A. Chambers all of their right, title and interest in and to the
San Pablo Rancho, declaring in said mortgage that it was "one undivided
eighth part of the whole of said rancho," to secure the payment of a
promissory note for $633, payable on demand, with interest at the rate
of five per cent, per month, compounded monthly, until paid. On July 3,
1856, their interest was sold under foreclosure proceedings; and on Janu-
ary 12, 1857, no redemption having been made and the time for redemp-
tion having expired, the sheriff of Contra Costa County, N. Hunsaker,
issued a deed therefor to John H. Saunders and Hiatt P. Hepburn. The
early part of this year, 1926, the Mercantile Trust Company paid $1,000
per front foot for their lot, 50 feet on the north side of Macdonald Ave-
nue by 107 J/? feet on the east side of Tenth Street, where their new bank
is now nearing completion.
Joseph Emeric had acquired the Jesus Maria Castro and Francisco de
Moraga interests, amounting to a 2/22 interest in the rancho, but had not
signed the agreement for the partition made by Gray, and interests of some
of the minor heirs were not bound by that agreement. On November 19,
1867, Joseph Emeric and others brought suit in the district court of the
Fifteenth Judicial District of the State for partition of the rancho. An
interlocutory decree was rendered in that court on July 15, 1878. Several
appeals were taken; and the judgment and order denying a new trial were
reversed by the Supreme Court (Emeric vs. Alvarado, 64 Cal. Reports,
page 529) and the case sent back to the lower court, where Judge James
G. Maguire, on January 5, 1889, entered an interlocutory decree adjudg-
ing partition among the parties in interest according to their respective
shares, as determined and set forth in the findings. There were several
hundred parties to the action; and the findings of fact, conclusion of law,
and interlocutory decree covered about 750 printed pages. From this
last decision there were appeals taken by five sets of appellants to the
122 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Supreme Court (Emeric vs. Alvarado, Cal. 90, page 444), but on August
7, 1891, that court rendered a decision covering the five separate appeals
and affirming the judgment and interlocutory decree rendered by Judge
Maguire, and also his order denying a new trial.
The final decree in partition was rendered on March 3, 1894, by Judge
J. C. B. Hubbard ; and the costs and expense of partition were fixed by that
decree at $103,470.73. The cost of recording the certified copy of this
final decree and of filing the certified copy of the map accompanying the
same, in the office of the county recorder of Contra Costa County,
was $300.
At the commencement of the suit in partition, Dr. Jacob M. Tewks-
bury claimed the ownership and possession of nearly 5000 acres of the
rancho, but by said final decree this was cut to 2214.155y 3 acres. In the
meantime he had built some levees across the marsh lands lying between
the mainland and the Potrero, and ultimately acquired title to about 1200
acres of this "salt marsh and overflowed land." The south 400 acres was
sold in 1905 by his widow to H. C. Cutting, who organized the Point
Richmond Canal & Land Company. This company dredged a canal from
near Ellis Landing on the slough to a point near where the Washington
School now stands, and almost parallel to Cutting Boulevard, and with
the material thus obtained filled and reclaimed about half the acreage
bought, subdividing it into streets and lots, and sold many of the lots.
The writer was told some years ago by John R. Nystrom that he, Nystrom,
had frequently sailed in a bay sloop through the channel between the
Potrero and the mainland, from San Pablo Bay to Ellis Landing, before
Tewksbury built the levees that finally caused shoaling, and ultimately
the closing of the sloughs.
Among other portions of the San Pablo Rancho acquired by Tewks-
bury, and confirmed to his widow, Emily S. Tewksbury, by the decree, was
lot No. 48, as described by the decree and delineated on said map, said lot
consisting of 392.12 acres. The southeasterly line of this lot was 100
feet northwesterly of the line of Washington Avenue and extended from
the marsh on the north side of the Potrero across to San Francisco Bay.
In 1901 Mrs. Tewksbury sold about half of this lot No. 48, and also a
portion of the salt marsh and overflowed land, to the Standard Oil Com-
pany, and has since sold that company the larger portion of the northerly
800 acres of marsh. On these lands acquired from the Tewksburys the
Standard Oil Company's mammoth refinery and its adjuncts now stand.
The easterly portion of this lot No. 48 was subdivided and sold off in
lots, as is shown in the map of the Town of Richmond, Amended Map
No. 1 of the Town of Richmond, and maps of Third Addition to the
Town of Richmond, Fourth Addition to the Town of Richmond, and Bay
View Addition to the Town of Richmond.
Dr. J. M. Tewksbury was the leading physician in San Francisco,
where he died on February 4, 1877, leaving a widow, Emily S. Tewksbury,
and a son and a daughter. By his will he left his entire estate to his
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 123
widow. For some years he and his family lived across Wild Cat Creek
from Francisco Castro's home, east of the end of San Pablo Avenue,
where the road up San Pablo Creek joins the avenue.
Joseph Emeric was another owner of a large interest in San Pablo
Rancho. The final decree in partition awarded his son, Henry F. Emeric,
as his successor, 1991.132 acres. Among the parcels awarded to him was
Lot 44, which contained 236.49 acres. Henry F. Emeric married Eliza-
beth Dover on May 10, 1899. He died in August, 1899, leaving all of his
estate to his widow. She, in the early part of 1900, sold Lot 44 to John
Nicholl for $50,000. The John Nicholl Company subdivided that portion
of the lot lying northwest of the Santa Fe Railway, and on August 28,
1900, filed the map known as "Map of the Nicholl Subdivision of the
Town of Richmond." As there was considerable hard feeling between
Nicholl and the Tewksburys, the first subdivision map prepared by T. W.
Morgan, C. E., for the company, made no provision for the opening of
Richmond and Nicholl Avenue as they now exist, between the Tewksbury
and Nicholl subdivisions, but was laid off in a continuous line of lots mostly
40 by 100 feet, backing up against the Tewksbury line and fronting on
Washington Avenue.
John Nicholl came to this locality in 1857. He bought 200 acres of
the San Pablo Rancho and built his house, which still stands and is occupied
by his son, Joseph L. Nicholl, on the south side of Macdonald Avenue at
28th Street. The eucalyptus trees still standing in front of the house were
planted in 1868, and are said to be the oldest in the county. This tract, in
the decree of partition, is designated as Lot No. 55, and contains 191.76
acres. It extended from Road No. 14 (now 23rd Street) to 32nd Street
on the east, and from the south line of the Oakland branch of the Santa
Fe Railway to the vicinity of the Grant School. The easterly nineteen
acres of the portion south of Macdonald Avenue was purchased by the
city and is now being improved, and is known as Nicholl Park. It was
here that John Nicholl, as captain, and a number of the earlier settlers,
organized a small company known as a "Home Guard," which assembled
and had "guard mount" and other drills during the Civil War.
Nicholl acquired other interests in the San Pablo Rancho prior to the
partition, and on the advice of his attorney, John B. Moon, accepted Lot
45 of the San Pablo Rancho, containing 152.81 acres and including the
promontory known as Point Richmond, now Ferry Point, Moon saying
to him that some day it would be "valuable as a railway terminus." The
truth of this prediction was proved when on February 26, 1897, Robert
W. Watt, as vice-president of the San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley
Railway, gave Mr. Nicholl a check for $80,000, dated on that day and
drawn on the Bank of California, in payment for fifty-seven acres, includ-
ing Point Richmond and adjacent land, which the Santa Fe Company now
own. For some reason the deed was made out to Claus Spreckels. This,
as we all now know, was the entering wedge for the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railroad to reach tidewater on the Bay of San Francisco. An
124 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
interesting sidelight on its coming is found in an article by A. S. Mac-
donald written inj_910, entitled '-'The Beginning of the City of Rich-
mond," from which the following is quoted:
"One November evening in 1895, I drove out from Oakland, bound
for the San Pablo Marshes on a duck hunt. Leaving San Pablo Avenue,
we passed the old Nicholl homestead and came to what is known as
Twenty-third Street. Here the county road turned to the north, and then
to the west again along Richmond Avenue. The only house on the road at
that time belonged to Mrs. McGann, whose daughter was the first post-
mistress of Richmond. It was a muddy, treacherous road from her place
to the Potrero, used only by a Swiss dairyman, tenant on the Tewksbury
land, residing about where the Standard Oil Company's office now stands.
Leaving our team at this place, we walked out on the dyke to blinds out "at
the mouth of the San Pablo Creek. It was a perfectly beautiful morning,
sun shining brightly and not a breath of wind; consequently no ducks were
flying, and after sitting five hours without a chance shot I concluded to
quit, walk over the Potrero hill, and explore the Bay shore. On reaching
the summit of the hill, a magnificent view greeted my eyes — Mt. Tamal-
pais looming up to the right, Berkeley to the left and, seemingly just across
the way, San Francisco — without a sign of life to disturb the quiet and
peaceful scene. I wondered why such a delightful spot had been neglected
for either pleasure or profit, as not alone its beauty, but also its commer-
cial possibilities, appealed to me at once and I determined to investigate.
"The government map and surveys showed a depth of sixty-five feet of
water, the only point on the east side of the Bay where land and navigable
deep water met. Aside from this, I discovered a saving of over twelve
miles could be made by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company by a ferry
from Point Richmond directly to San Francisco, instead of handling
freight through Oakland to the shallow estuary of the Peralta Street slip.
"These facts I presented to Mr. Huntington with the idea of establish-
ing the freight and overland traffic of the railroad company at that point.
Mr. Huntington thought very favorably of the project and prepared to
look over the proposition; but unfortunately, or rather fortunately, as it
has since turned out, he had become entangled in some lawsuits and left
the State.
"Not discouraged, however, as soon as the Santa Fe Railroad Com-
pany announced its intention of reaching San Francisco, I presented my
scheme to them. To avoid attracting attention, the chief engineer, head
officials and I went out by separate routes and carefully examined the water
front, with the result that it was considered the most feasible and economi-
cal point on the Bay for a terminus, and was adopted.
"As soon as this question was definitely decided, I knew that a great
city must grow up there, and the next thing was to find a proper location.
The Potrero was rough and hilly, while the immediate surrounding land
was low, flat and swampy; the next cho/ce tract was that belonging to
George H. Barrett, a pioneer resident. This we secured and named the
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 125
City of Richmond. The country was uninviting-looking enough at the
time, except the homestead of Barrett, which stood on Tenth Street, just
north of Macdonald Avenue. >
"The subdivision of thisjiay ranch by myself and associates was quite
a serious problem and, to begin with, rather discouraging, as streets had
to be laid out, blocks graded, sewers constructed, water and gas mains
secured, railroad stations established by both the Southern Pacific and
Santa Fe Companies, and street car facilities acquired; but all of this and
much more "has been accomplished, thanks to the energetic, enterprising
people who have taken up their residence there — and much credit must be
given the Women's Improvement Club.
"The argument which I made to induce the railroad to build to Rich-
mond is stronger and better today, since it has been proven, than when
first used — to wit, that it was the only place on the East Shore and the
most desirable place on San Francisco Bay where land and navigable
water came -together,- giving shipping facilities unexcelled anywhere else
on the whole Coast.
"la addition to this, now, with the Southern Pacific Railroad, Santa Fe
Railroad, and belt line railroad for land connections, and the Standard
Oil Company's immense plant and the cables of the great Electric Com-
pany affording cheap power, it is an ideal place for manufacturing, as is
evidenced by the large manufacturing concerns already attracted to this
locality.
"Richmond, with its fine climate, lying snugly behind the Potrero and
' .sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds, its navigable harbor, over-
land railroads and cheap power, has a basis for growth possessed by few
/cities and, having all the improvements of a modern progressive municipal-
ity, is bound to be one of the most important cities on the Coast.
"I was laughed at in 1900 when I predicted a population of 10,000 in
ten years. President Ripley stated that Richmond would have a popula-
tion of 20,000 in fifteen years, and I have every confidence in his prediction.
"Augustin S. Macdonald."
In the early fifties the place at the foot of Tenth Street was known as
Ellis Landing. Before that time this district was for ages the burial
ground of prehistoric man. Scientists from all over the world have studied
Ellis Shell Mound, and their researches unearthed much of value before
modern improvements came. In 1849_ Capt. George Ellis operated
schooners between San Francisco and Ellis Landing. The channel ran
from San Francisco past Ellis Landing to San Pablo Bay, through the
present site of the Standard Oil refinery. The Potrero Hills formed an
island subject to government occupancy. When this channel was closed,
it made this section part of the mainland. In 1859 Captain Ellis acquired
the property. He operated two schooners, Sierra and Mystery, carrying
produce and freight between the landing and San Francisco. John Ny-
strom was manager of the landing. When Ellis died his. children acquired
N 126 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
the property, and the old Ellis home and ninety acres of harbor property
were purchased from George and Selena Ellis, his sister, by the Ellis Land-
ing & Dock Company; M. Emanuel was president of the company.
George H. Barrett once owned 420 acres in what is now the business
district of Richmond. Barrett Avenue is named for him. A. S. Macdon-
ald bought some of the Barrett property, Macdonald Avenue being named
for him.
Owen Griffins was a large landowner in the south part of Richmond.
Part of it was subdivided by Griffins and Watruss, who sold to John Ny-
strom, and he added Nystrom's Addition.
Benjamin Boorman came in 1859. A biographicaLsketch of Mr. Boor-
man will be found in another part of this history.
Bernard Schapiro bought 1500 acres of the Tewksbury property and
subdivided it.
William H. Wood was another pioneer. His widow married Mr.
Boorman. Her children were Robert N. Wood, Richard C. Wood, Lu-
cetta Wood Dunlap, Ann Elizabeth Wood, and Frank G. Wood. By her
second marriage there were two children, Adelaide Picton and Emily
Axtell.
Under the guise of its being "the People's Road," the San Francisco &
San Joaquin Valley Railroad was built from Bakerfield to Stockton, and
then on to Point Richmond. The portion from Stockton to Point Rich-
mond, now known as Ferry Point, was built during 1899 and the early
part of 1900. When the writer came here in November, 1899, the rails
had been laid this side of Pinole, although the grading was nearly finished,
and the tunnel was through the Potrero Hills, but the fill across the tide-
lands from near Keller's Beach to the Point had not been completed.
However, a few people had awakened to the fact that there would be a city
here, or at any rate a chance to sell lots, for on June 3, 1899, the "Map of
the Town of Point Richmond" was filed in the office of the county recorder
of this county. This tract was handled and sold by Charles T. Rodolph,
of Oakland, and was the first within what is now the City of Richmond to
be subdivided. It comprised the land on the north side of Barrett Avenue
(then Road No. 12) and designated on that map as Point Richmond Ave-
nue, between Mrs. McGann's property at the east line of A Street (called
Spreckels Avenue on that map) and the Santa Fe Railroad, and also
included a triangular piece west of the railroad, cut into some five or six
blocks. As the place where Point Richmond Avenue crossed the railroad
was destined to become a very busy portion of the yards of the railroad,
the company exchanged some of their ground east of the railroad south of
Point Richmond Avenue for that portion of the Town of Point Richmond
lying west of the railroad, as shown on said map. The streets now known
as A, B, and C Streets, and Garrard Boulevard, were designated on the
map as Spreckels, Santa Fe, Topeka, and Atchison Avenues, respectively.
The propaganda setting forth that the San Francisco and San Joaquin
Railway was to be "the People's Road," to deliver them from the bondage
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 127
and monopoly of the Southern Pacific, which was then the only road reach-
ing the Bay of San Francisco or traversing the great San Joaquin Valley,
was a shrewd move on the part of the Santa Fe people, for they succeeded
in getting quite a large popular subscription for the stock, and many
advantages in the way of obtaining rights of way. The building of the
road exhausted the funds raised by the sale of stock and bonds issued; and
the Santa Fe Company very accommodatingly stepped in and furnished a
ferry boat (the Ocean Wave, a stern-wheeler from somewhere up around
Puget Sound), rolling stock, and other equipment, and took over the man-
agement of the road.
The first through train from Chicago, over the Santa Fe, arrived on
July 3, 1900, about noon. Captain H. P. Lauritzen was in charge of the
ferry boat, Ocean Wave, waiting for the train.
Prior to the arrival of that overland train, Lyman Naugle, Richmond's
grocer, first newspaper publisher and first postmaster, had arrived from
somewhere and had established himself and family in a small building on
the north side of what is now Barrett Avenue, between A and B Streets.
He and his family were the first and, for several weeks, the only settlers
on this, the first part of the townsite platted. On April 15, 1900, he put
in a few cases of old type, an old broken composing stone, and a small
chase, and proceeded to set up the forms for the first newspaper published
in this city, which he called the Richmond Record. In those days there
was no Richmond depot on the Southern Pacific, only a three-sided shed
with a long board seat in it, at the crossing of Road No. 12, now Barrett
Avenue. This "flag stop" was then called Barrett Station, as Barrett's
house, just east of Tenth Street between Macdonald on Nevin iWenues,
was the nearest house to it, where the Southern Pacific trains stopped twice
a day if "flagged." It was to this point Naugle carried the forms for his
paper, and then on into Berkeley where the paper was printed. Soon
after, he got a hand press; and on July 5, 1900, assisted by Frank Critchett
(who now lives in Oakland and has the first copy of the paper printed,
and who was the first subscriber, and the writer), began the actual publica-
tion of a newspaper in the young city. The first few issues of the Record
were mailed from Stege, a little settlement with a railroad depot and post
office, and called into being by the California Cap Works, the Stauffer
Chemical Company's plant, and a match factory. Uncle Sam was not yet
fully aware of the birth of this "Wonder City," but in August a post office
was established in Naugle's store and print shop and he was appointed as
our first postmaster.
The second subdivision of our city was known as the "Townsite of
Santa Fe" and was owned and put on the market by McEwen Brothers, a
corporation composed of George and Frank McEwen and some of their
family. This tract extends from the south line of the A. T. & S. F. Oak-
land branch right of way, to the salt marsh lands, then owned by the
Tewksburys on the south, and from a line 100 feet west of First Street
128 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
easterly to Tenth Street. The map of this subdivision was filed in the office
of the county recorder at Martinez on March 17, 1900.
The next plat filed was known as "Map No. 1 of the Town of Rich-
mond," being a portion of Lot No. 48 of the San Pablo Rancho, owned
by Emily S. Tewksbury, and covered a few lots facing on what was called
Tewksbury Avenue (now Standard Avenue) from 100 feet west of Wash-
ington Avenue over about to Castro Street. This map was filed on June
30, 1900.
Then came the "Nicholl Subdivision of the Town of Richmond," a
map filed on August 28, 1900; and after it, on November 10, 1900, was
filed the "Amended Map No. 1, of the Town of Richmond," which took
in more of Lot No. 48.
We'll step over again to Barrett Avenue, where, at the northwest
corner of A Street (then Point Richmond Avenue and Spreckels Avenue),
T. M. Ross (who had come down from Sacramento) had started the con-
struction of the second building to be put up in Richmond. He had not
yet got the roof on when along came Frank Critchett, from Tulare, who
landed here about July 1, 1900, with his good wife Martha and her three
sons: Elton Mason, Albert Mason and William D. Mason, the last named
then about fourteen years of age. William D. Mason was afterward
superintendent of the Standard Oil refinery. Critchett thought it would
be a good place for business; so he bought the property and started to fin-
ish it. But the roof was barely done when he sold it to Henry Wanske,
who opened, and for some time after operated, the Star Saloon. His
reason for selling was that the writer had made a deal whereby Critchett
was given by the John Nicholl Company the two lots at the north corner
of Washington and Richmond Avenues (80 feet on Washington by 100
feet on Richmond) in consideration of his erecting, opening, and maintain-
ing for not less than eighteen months, what they were pleased to term a
first-class Mechanics' Hotel. The Tewksbury and Nicholl people also
wanted Naugle, with his newspaper, grocery and post office. Naugle
would not go without Critchett, nor would he go without Naugle; so as a
part of the same deal we arranged with Naugle to move over to the hill-
side in consideration of Nicholl's giving him a lot 40 by 100 feet where
the bank now stands, at the west corner of Washington and Richmond
Avenues, and $300 to be used in the construction of a building, to house
his grocery, print shop and post office, on the lot adjacent, 40 feet front
on Richmond Avenue by 120 deep, given him by the Tewksburys, together
with $300 in cash to be used in constructing that building. This building
was started about September 1, 1900; and on the 10th, before he could
get the roof completed, we secured a big dray and loaded on it Mr.
Naugle's effects, including the Richmond Post Office, and brought the
"whole cheese" over and established him in his new quarters. The post
office did not stay long with the "bunch" at Washington and Nicholl Ave-
nues. It was a hard blow to Rodolph and the others interested at the
original location, which was for years known as "Old Town," to lose their
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 129
most valuable advertising assets, other than the railroad, i. e., the grocery,
newspaper and postoffice. Mr. Naugle had failed to get permission of
the post office department to make the move, and having raised the ire of
Mr. Laymance and his friends, soon had Mr. Bricker, United States
postal inspector, hot on his trail with a very large demand from so diminu-
tive a man, "to immediately take that post office back." Back it went;
and Naugle, with his grocery and print shop on the hillside, had to trudge
through the rain and mud of that winter over to Old Town to take care
of his post office. The spring following Miss Lizzie McGann was ap-
pointed to succeed him, and was postmaster for many years, until Wav-
erley Stairley was appointed, who in turn was succeeded by J. M. Long.
Frank Critchett, a small man with lots of energy and executive ability,
soon got a crew of men together and started building operations at a lively
rate. His hotel was started before we "stole" the post office. Then Miss
McNally, who was boarding a lot of railroad men in a tent near where
the roundhouse stands and was having difficulties with the winds and rain,
prevailed on Critchett to put her up a hotel on the gore lot at the foot
of Washington Avenue. Bill Richards came over from San Francisco
and bought the lot adjoining Critchett's on the north, and he wanted a
two-story building put up on it immediately. So Frank took over the man-
agement of that work and soon had Richards Hall, where were had many
a dance and frolic, under roof. He must have had a preference for
"Bills," as there were Bill Redding, Bill Falls and Bill Conn, all sawing
and hammering away at the same time. Those were stirring times in the
live town; in fact the wind during that winter "stirred" several of the
unfinished buildings clear off their foundations. The John Nicholl Com-
pany had five cottages under construction — one at the south corner of
Washington and Richmond Avenues, one on Washington on the second lot
above Naugle's corner, one on Richmond opposite the end of Park Place,
and two on Tunnel Avenue, between Richmond and Nicholl Avenues.
During the earlier part of that season, P. M. (Pat) Dean and Mr. Wyatt
had put up a two-story frame building on Tewksbury (now Standard)
Avenue and were occupying it for a boarding house and saloon. And with
so many other memories crowding along, I almost forgot what must have
been a very important place during the railroad construction work around
here — the old "Hunters' Home" saloon, that stood on the south side of
Tewksbury Avenue opposite the end of the road that came up from the
railroad yards. How long it had been there I do not know, but the build-
ing looked old when I first saw it. It was afterward moved across the
street to its present location on the corner.
Road No. 12, of which Barrett Avenue is now the easterly portion,
extended from Road No. 14, now Twenty-third Street, to a point a little
west of the junction of Garrard and Barrett Avenues, and thence southwest
to a junction with Road No. 26, now Standard Avenue, about 100 feet
west of Washington Avenue. In January, 1901, the Santa Fe shops were
130 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
moved from Stockton to Richmond; urgently necessary repair work on
cars and engines had, prior to that, been done in the open. It is rumored
that, in making the blueprints for the layout of construction of shops and
roundhouse, the tracing was inadvertently placed upside down, so that
the plans as shown thereon provided for the shops and roundhouse to be
westerly instead of easterly of the main line. At all events the roundhouse
was built so that it was squarely on and across that portion of Road No.
12. In 1901 an abandonment of the portion of Road No. 12, from and
across the railroad on down through the roundhouse and shops, was put
through the board of supervisors, on condition that the Santa Fe give a
new roadway, graded and graveled, and sixty feet wide, in exchange. That
road was afterward abondoned to the Santa Fe Company's use in exchange
for the present Garrard Boulevard, eighty feet wide. It was filled to
grade and an oil macadam top put on by the company, and served for
many years; within the past few months (November, 1926) the Santa
Fe and the Key System have completed a fine job of paving the portion of
the boulevard from Ohio to Macdonald Avenues with concrete base and
bitumen top.
As is the case with all new railroad towns, the Santa Fe's first depot or
station was a box car; then came a frame building on the east side of
the track near where Ohio Avenue crossed the railroad. A reading room
for the employees was also constructed there by the company. The station
and reading room were maintained there until moved to their present loca-
tion at the west end of Macdonald Avenue.
Incorporation and Annexation Matters
On October 5, 1903, the first petition for incorporation of the city
was filed with the board of supervisors. The territory described and
sought to be incorporated included all west of Twenty-third Street now
within the present city boundary. The supervisors reduced the area so
as to exclude about everything but the subdivided territory on the
Potrero, but the sponsors for incorporation preferred not to have the
proposition go to a vote that way. On September 6, 1904, another peti-
tion was filed describing a smaller portion than that described in the first.
There were various delays by the supervisors in passing on the matter,
and they finally lost jurisdiction; so on June 5, 1905, a third petition was
filed. In this was described a small territory. On July 3, 1905, the
board of supervisors made an order calling an election on Thursday,
August 3, 1905. At that election 256 votes were cast in favor of and 52
against incorporation. On August 7 the supervisors canvassed the vote
and made an order declaring Richmond duly incorporated as a city of
the sixth class, under the General Incorporation Act.
The first board of trustees were : Edward J. Garrard, Frank Bab-
cock, Samuel R. Curry, Frank Critchett, and Herman B. Kinney. The
first meeting of the board was held in the main office of the Critchett
Building, August 14, 1905. Samuel R. Curry was selected by the board
as president; Wm. R. Satterwhite was appointed city attorney; Robert
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 131
G. Stitt was chosen as city recorder; and W. Stairley, as treasurer. Harry
Livingston had been elected city marshal, and J. N. Galbraith, city clerk.
The boundaries of the new city were about as follows : Beginning on
the east line of the wharf of the Pacific Coast (now Standard) Oil Com-
pany; thence northeasterly along line of the wharf and east line of the
land of the oil company to a point about 450 feet north of Standard
Avenue; thence southeast to intersection of north line of Ohio Street with
easterly line of right of way of the Santa Fe Railway; thence northerly
along right of way line to north line of Macdonald Avenue 100 feet west
of First Street; thence south to Cutting Boulevard; thence southwesterly
in a line running about 1000 feet northwest of the old road where it
crossed the Potrero to the brickyard, over to the edge of the tide-land
surveys; thence following the outer line of the tide lots to near the outer
wharf; thence zigzaging around so as to leave Ferry Point out, and then
following outer boundary of tide lots to place of beginning.
A census taken at that time showed a population of 2118.
On December 22, 1905, all the territory within the present city limits
lying west of a point 170 feet east of Twenty-second Street was annexed.
On October 12, 1908, a board of fifteen freeholders consisting of H. C.
Wyatt, president, and Dr. C. L. Abbott, F. E. Adams, Levi Boswell,
L. D. Dimm, J. A. Follett, E. J. Garrard, E. A. Gowe, I. E. Marshall,
John Roth, H. H. Turley, E. M. Tilden, Dr. Chas. R. Blake, L. S.
Higgins, and I. M. Perrin, were elected and prepared our present charter,
which was ratified by vote of the people on February 9, 1909; was ap-
proved by concurrent resolution of the legislature and adopted by the
assembly on February 17, 1909, and by the senate on February 25, 1909;
was filed in the office of the secretary of state on March 4, 1909; and
went into effect at noon of July 1, 1909. It provides for election of a
city council of nine members, whose terms of office are six years each,
these to be elected on the second Monday in May of each odd-numbered
year. The council each year select one of their own members as pre-
siding officer, designated as mayor, and also appoint a city manager, a
clerk, and all other city officials.
The members of the first council under the new charter were : Edward
J. Garrard, John N. Hartnett, James C. Owens, Edward McDuff, Otto
R. Ludwig, Homer E. Wyatt, John J. Dooling, Joseph B. Willis, and
Jerry A. Follett. Their first meeting was held on July 6, 1909. Willis
was chosen as mayor; and the following appointments were made: T.
Park Jacobs, city clerk; W. Stairley, treasurer; H. H. Tutley, auditor;
I. E. Marshall, assessor and tax collector; Lee D. Windrem, city attor-
ney; Orlin Hudson, engineer; Jas. P. Arnold, chief of police; Dr. H. M.
Barney, commissioner of health and city physician; and Wm. Lindsav,
police judge.
On October 17, 1911, an election was held for annexation of all the
territory east of Twenty-third Street now within the city limits, and also
the greater part of what is now El Cerrito, but failed to carry.
132 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
On May 28, 1912, an election for annexation of the territory east of
Twenty-third Street was again held, and carried. The territory annexed
did not include any east of San Pablo Avenue lying south of the Santa
Fe Railway or Stege Junction, nor what is platted and known as Rich-
mond Annex west of San Pablo Avenue.
The Standard Oil Company
The Standard Oil Company's refinery is the pioneer, and the largest
of the city's industries, and might well be called the industrial backbone
of the city of Richmond. In 1901 the Pacific Coast Oil Company, as this
branch of the Standard was then known, with their refinery at Alameda,
and W. S. Rheem as general manager, bought, on his recommendation,
117 acres of land from Mrs. Emily S. Tewksbury, and about November
1, of that year, began grading and other work for the construction of a
new refinery, as they were abandoning the Alameda location for the more
advantageous one in Richmond. This was the nucleus of their holdings
of 1350 acres and their present immense oil refinery, the largest west of
the Mississippi River. In this connection the following item from Mar-
tinez, dated November 29, 1926, is of interest:
"Martin W. Joost, Contra Costa County tax collector, today received
the largest individual tax payment ever received in this county when the
Standard Oil Company tendered its check for $376,143.21 in payment of
the first tax installment on its Richmond refinery and the oil storage and
pipe lands in this county.
"Joost, in reporting the record payment of a third of a million dol-
lars by one concern, stated that this equals almost the total amount col-
lected to date, $465,000. None of the other heavy payers of taxes have
sent in their checks so far."
Luther D. Dimm was assistant superintendent; John C. Black, con-
struction engineer; E. A. Gowe, cashier; Frank Babcock had charge of
the pipe fitting department; Ed. Axelson, Sr., was head of the boiler de-
partment; G. B. Fredenberg was superintendent of the acid works; and
Joseph F. Brooks, who is now manager of the refineries throughout Cali-
fornia for the company, with offices in their twenty-two-story building in
San Francisco, was in charge of the can factory.
As there are no producing oil wells in this vicinity, one might wonder
where all the oil comes from to keep a plant of such capacity supplied.
Great storage tanks and reservoirs were built in the apparently inexhaus-
tible oil fields in the interior of the State, and a double pipe line nearly
300 miles long was laid to conduct the oil therefrom to Richmond. The
oil was heavy and ran slowly; hence it was necessary to establish pump-
ing stations at various points throughout its length, and it is even neces-
sary to heat the oil at these stations so that it will flow more freely. This
great pipe line transportation scheme was a vast experiment, for which
many predicted failure; but the fact that millions upon millions of barrels
of oil have been pumped through the stations, and that the company has
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 133
since laid another line or two alongside of the first ones, and other com-
panies have adopted the same system of oil transportation, is the best
proof of its success.
The oil transported through these lines is stored in tanks and reser-
voirs on the hills about halfway between Pinole and Richmond, at what
is known as the "Tank Farm"; from there the oil flows by gravity
through about three miles of pipe to the refinery.
To give some idea of the immensity of this plant, we have but to say
that for the five-year period from 1915 to 1920 the average daily run
of crude oil through the refinery was approximately 50,000 barrels, and
for the past year the average has been about 80,000 barrels per day.
The daily average of men employed at the plant in 1915 was 1800; in
1919 it was 3400; in March, 1920, on account of the large amount of
construction work going on, it was 4500; and for the past year the daily
average has been about 2800 men.
In January, 1917, the company adopted the eight-hour day for their
men, and while the number of employees from 1915 to 1920 increased
about 100 per cent, the payroll increased to about $700,000, or about
300 per cent. In 1926 the monthly payroll averaged about $550,000.
In 1921 the company adopted a plan for giving the employees an op-
portunity to become stockholders in the company, permitting them to
make installment payments of not to exceed twenty per cent of their
monthly salary, the company agreeing to credit them with fifty per cent
additional for each dollar so paid on the purchase price of the stock. A
large number of the employees grasped this wonderful opportunity. The
scheme was brought to a close in December, 1926; and the company
issued stock to eighty-seven per cent of its men.
The products of this plant are many and varied, and are distributed
all over the world. The company owns its own fleet of steamers and oil
barges, thus adding to the convenience of delivery.
Transportation and Power Facilities
The Richmond harbor, in point of tonnage, ranks among the great
ports of the country, and ranks fourth among Pacific Coast ports. More
than 5,480,000 tons of cargo, excluding lumber, passed over Richmond's
docks in 1925. The city has sixteen miles of deep water front.
The Santa Fe Railroad's Pacific Coast Terminal is at Richmond,
where are located its great freight yards and shops employing more than
750 men. The Southern Pacific's Ogden, Shasta, Sunset, and San Joaquin
Valley Lines converge at Richmond. These two transcontinental carriers
maintain an inter-switching agreement and operate in rotation the Rich-
mond Belt Line. This service gives Richmond factories the most conven-
ient and advantageous local and transcontinental shipping service on the
Pacific Coast. Switching charges, on either line, on a car destined for
a main-line haul, are absorbed by the carrier.
Richmond enjoys a trap-car or L. C. L. service based on a flat rate
of S2.70 per car for the movement of L. C. L., provided the line-haul
134 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
revenue equals $15. For this fee of $2.70, the Southern Pacific or Santa
Fe will pick up carload lots of L. C. L. shipments at the plant and trans-
fer them to freight warehouse, or handle incoming L. C. L. shipments
from freight station to plant. Local switching charges are 34 cents
per ton, $7.20 per car minimum.
Richmond is served by a belt line railway which is independently
owned. It is operated over alternating five-year periods by both the
Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe, connecting these railways with the
wharves. The Richmond Belt Line operates 11.30 miles of track, 8600
feet having been added early in 1926.
Since 1921 the tonnage at Richmond has increased seventy per cent.
In 1925 a total of 30,174 cars were handled over the Belt Line Railway,
which is within the switching lines of both the Santa Fe and the Southern
Pacific as regards a main-line haul. Passing through the most highly
developed section of industrial Richmond, the services of the Belt Line
Railway are a distinct asset to every manufacturing concern locating
within the territory it feeds.
No city in the United States is more advantageously placed with re-
spect to fuel and power than Richmond. The Western States Gas &
Llectric Company is the chief power distributor in the city, but the Pacific
Gas & Electric Company and the Great Western Power Company also
serve Richmond. The high-power transmission lines from the hydro-
electric plants in the Sierra Nevada Mountains reach Richmond first of
the Bay Cities, and Richmond thus has first call on the vast resources of
the hydro-electric power projects. Rates are set by the California Rail-
road Commission, and have been characterized by Herbert Hoover as
"the cheapest in the United States."
At Richmond are the Pullman Shops, the Standard Oil Refinery, the
Republic Steel Package Company (head office, Cleveland), the Certain-
teed Products Company, the Santa Fe Shops, the Pacific Sanitary Manu-
facturing Company (4 plants), and more than fifty other industries,
which in 1926 turned out $185,000,000 of manufactured goods.
A recent survey showed that Richmond possesses more than 106
miles of splendidly paved streets. By reason of their effect on traffic and
transportation, good streets are a distinct asset to every city, and Rich-
mond has followed a consistent plan of street improvement commensurate
with her growth and industrial importance.
Schools of the City
A splendid system of public, high, and vocational schools serves the
people of Richmond, and high standards of instruction prevail. Because
of the industrial life upon which the city depends, especial emphasis is
placed upon vocational and trade school work.
The first public school within the present boundaries of Richmond
was held in a small frame building on the west side of San Pablo Avenue
about 500 feet north of McBryde Avenue. This was the first school in
the San Pablo school district, which included all of the territory com-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 135
prised within the San Pablo Rancho. On February 2, 1903, the district
was divided into three parts, forming the Richmond, Stege and San
Pablo school districts. After the city of Richmond had grown, and had
annexed the lands east of Twenty-third Street, and including Stege, by
the election of May 28, 1912 (though the annexed territory did not in-
clude all of the Stege district), the Richmond and Stege districts were
consolidated, and that is why the Fairmont, Kensington and Harding
schools, all in the city of El Cerrito, are under the jurisdiction of the
trustees, and form a part of the Richmond school district at this time.
The first building, with its additions, which housed as many as eighty
pupils at one time, stood until quite recently, and in later days was used
as a road house and saloon. The first teacher to preside there was a
Miss Heniky, a woman of unusual ability, able to converse fluently in
five different languages. After five years of service she resigned and
married. Professor Skinner, then a teacher in the Berkeley school, ac-
cepted the position, as he was given a much larger salary than the then
little hamlet of Berkeley could afford to pay. Miss Ruth Ann Nicholl
was also one of those who taught in that building — and taught one of
our present teachers, then Emily Boorman and now Mrs. Axtell.
The Richmond public schools proper had their beginning in March,
1901, when our city was a village of only a little more than 100 people —
and most of these living in tents. The school opened in Richards Hall,
on the northwest side of Richmond Avenue adjacent to the Critchett
Hotel, with fifteen pupils, from the first to the sixth grade inclusive. A.
Odell, a veteran of the school room, was the teacher. During his term
and through his efforts the school was removed, as soon as the building
would house them, to the basement of the old First Methodist Church,
a frame building on Richmond Avenue near Martina Street. This build-
ing was later torn down to make room for a newer brick structure. Mr.
Odell was stricken with typhoid fever and the last two weeks of the term
were taught by Miss Calista Rumrill. Miss Emily Boorman (now Mrs.
Axtell) opened the next term in July, 1901, with eighty-seven pupils, the
school still being in the church basement.
The San Pablo school district, of which we were then a part, had
voted bonds for the construction of a new school building for San Pablo,
at its present location on Market Street, and one for the Stege section out
on Potrero Avenue adjoining the Stege home place, now East Shore
Park; but on account of the rapid growth of Richmond, a portion of the
funds were diverted to the construction of our first school building — a
two-room affair now used by the old volunteer firemen as a clubroom — on
the half-block of property at the southwest corner of Standard Avenue
and Castro Street, donated by Mrs. Emily S. Tewksbury for school pur-
poses. In the fall of 1901 Miss Boorman, with her numerous flock,
moved into this new building, and soon a Miss Henry was employed to
assist her.
In June, 1901, the trustees of the San Pablo school district, viz., J. R.
Nystrom, Harry Ells and John Peres, applied to the University of Cali-
136 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
fornia for a man to take charge of their scattered schools. Walter T.
Helms — who was born on January 3, 1877, near San Lorenzo, and had
graduated at the Hayward High School and at the University of Cali-
fornia and was taking postgraduate work there — was recommended and
at once employed. He entered upon his duties in July, 1901, as principal
of the three schools of the district. The one at San Pablo had its prob-
lems to solve, Richmond was in embryo, and the Stege school was incon-
venient to reach; but Mr. Helms was equal to the occasion.
During 1901 the population had increased rapidly and the small quar-
ters then occupied by the school were too small; also the children of the
east side were handicapped by the long walk to the school on the west
side. For their accommodation J. R. Nystrom, clerk of the board, se-
cured the use of the loft in the barn on the Wicks property at the south-
west corner of Sixth Street and Ohio Avenue, in the early part of 1902;
and here the first school on the east side of town was held, with Miss
Elizabeth Carpenter, now Mrs. James Cruickshank, as teacher. The
school was afterwards moved to Henry J. Fitzgerald's building at the
corner of Main and Haight (now Fifth) Streets. After the opening of
Macdonald Avenue in the early part of 1902, it became necessary to pro-
vide more room; and a small frame building on the west side of Second
Street, a little north of Macdonald Avenue (now occupied by a Chinese
laundry), was secured for the purpose, and another teacher was added
to the faculty.
Upon the division of the district in February, 1903, Mr. Helms re-
mained as principal of the San Pablo schools at a salary of $100 per
month. There were six other teachers — viz. : Ruby Roth, Nellie Jones,
Susan Leonard, Ada Roth, Elizabeth Carpenter and Mrs. L. L. Johnson
■ — at salaries of sixty-five dollars per month. For the year, the enroll-
ment was 277 pupils, with an average daily attendance of 187. That
year there was apportioned to the Richmond school district $2741 from
State funds, and $3072.90 from the county funds, a total of $5813.90.
A bond issue was voted that year for a new building, and the little build-
ing on Standard Avenue was shunted to one side and a six-room two-
story building erected. This was sold in 1912, was moved west across
Standard Avenue, and is now an apartment house.
The original Tenth Street school building was constructed with a part
of that bond issue, on the west side of Tenth Street between Macdonald
and Bissell Avenues, in 1903. It was a frame building of four rooms.
Four more rooms were added, but the growth of the school was so rapid
that even with these added rooms it was too small. This eight-room
structure was sold in 1912 to Theo. Marcollo, moved to the east side of
First Street, and converted into an apartment house. John E. Zumwalt
was selected as the principal of the school (now Lincoln) in 1903, and
continued till his death in 1924.
In 1907 Richmond had two elementary schools, the one on Standard
Avenue and the Tenth Street School, with an average daily attendance of
577 pupils, and fourteen teachers. In October, 1926, there were ten
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 137
elementary schools, one junior high school, one high school, and depart-
ments of part-time study, kindergarten, and Americanization. One hun-
dred ninety-four teachers and supervisors are employed, and the total
enrollment is 5484.
Richmond Union High School
In 1907 the Richmond Union High School District was formed, and
is made up of the territory originally comprising the San Pablo School
District. William F. Belding, L. D. Dimm and B. B. McLellan were the
original board of trustees. The first meeting of the board was had in
the old Pioneer Club rooms. Professor Walter T. Helms was chosen as
supervising principal, and thereupon organized the faculty, consisting of
Prof. B. X. Tucker, as principal (he still is), and Miss Ruth Petersen
(now Mrs. B. X. Tucker) and Miss Alberta Bell (now Mrs. A. H. Bur-
nett). The school opened in the old unused original two-room school
building on Standard Avenue. A bond issue was then put over for the
purchase of the site now occupied by the school, on Twenty-third Street
between Macdonald and Bissell Avenues, and the construction of the
original building at a total cost of $85,000. Since that time various ad-
ditions have been made to the grounds and building, at a total cost of
about $100,000.
In 1924 the board purchased about twenty acres just beyond the city
limits, on the east side of Twenty-third Street, at a cost of $60,000, and
on October 29, 1926, awarded a contract for the construction of the new
high school building at a total cost of $592,991. The linoleum for the
building was contracted for on the same day at a cost of $8460.
Roosevelt Junior High School
The Roosevelt Junior High School, on grounds taking in the entire
block bounded by Eighth and Ninth Streets and Bissell and Chanslor
Avenues, was built in 1920, costing with the grounds a total of $425,000.
It has a capacity for 1200 pupils, and the auditorium built in conjunction
with it has a seating capacity of 1500.
Newspapers
On July 7, 1900, the Record made its first appearance as a weekly,
Lyman Naugle, editor. There was no postoffice and the papers were
mailed from Stege. When the postoffice was established, Naugle was
appointed postmaster. The Richmond Record made its appearance as a
daily on February 8, 1902.
The Santa Fe Times was established in 1902 by W. B. Brown. He
moved to Macdonald Avenue and published the Richmond Terminal.
George Ryan succeeded to the ownership in 1913.
The Tribune was" established in 1903, but did not long survive.
In 1910, J. L. Kennon established the Weekly Herald. This was
merged with the Record under the name of the Record-Herald.
138 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Richmond Daily Leader was established in March, 1912, By
G. A. Milnes. The Daily Leader and Daily Record-Herald were merged
that same year, and F. J. Hulaniski was manager of the combined papers.
He started the Contra Costan, a weekly, which was issued by the Record-
Herald office.
In August, 1914, H. C. Cutting established the Thinkograph maga-
zine, printed in San Francisco until 1916, when he brougt it to Richmond.
He established the Richmond News in 1916.
The Richmond Daily Independent made its bow in 1910, J. N. Foss
and M. J. Beaumont being the owners. John Galvin bought the Foss
interest, and is still connected with the paper.
The Daily News was established in January, 1914, by the Daily News
Company, Inc., backed by some twenty labor organizations. In 1916 it
was reduced to a weekly, and that same year H. C. Cutting took over
the paper and organized the Richmond Printing and Publishing Com-
pany. In 1917 the Daily News was resumed. The evening paper is the
Richmond Independent; the morning paper, the Record-Herald; and the
Richmond Terminal is the weekly.
Along in the early part of 1901 a post office was established on the
west side of town, with Miss Lucetta Wood (now Mrs. Paul Dunlap)
as postmaster. She continued in office for ten years. The post office de-
partment at first designated it East Yard, to correspond with what the
Santa Fe Company there called their station, in contradistinction to their
yards at Point Richmond, now Ferry Point. After a while the company
was prevailed upon to change the station's name to Richmond, and ulti-
mately the post office department changed the post office name to Point
Richmond, as there was already a Richmond post office on Barrett Ave.
TABLES
CIRCULATION OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
West Side Stege 23rd
Main Branch Branch Street Grant
Library Library Library Station Station Total
1910-11 16,596 +,216 20,811
1911-12 22,616 5,391 28,007
1912-13... 33,043 5,895 38,939
1913-14 44,965 6,661 1,083 52,709
1914-15 66,497 10,318 3,058 79,873
1915-16 78,541 18,550 4,736 101.827
1916-17 84,233 18,300 5,854 108,387
1917-18 90,117 19,564 6,483 116,164
1918-19 100,877 14,374 5,646 120,897
1919-20 127,385 21,749 6,542 155,676
1920-21 158,278 24,997 6,934 190,209
1921-22 173,252 25,768 7,873 206,893
1922-23 194,123 28,669 9,512 320 232,624
1923-24 194,808 22,512 10,351 227,671
1924-25 238,228 24,016 11,566 1,306 275,116
1925-26 279,268 23,462 12,437 2,599 317,766
MEMBERSHIP
Borrowers' cards issued to July 1, 1925 8,953
Borrowers' cards added by new registration 1,464
Borrowers' cards cancelled 879
Borrowers' cards in force June 30, 1926 9,538
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
139
ESTIMATED VALUE OF
City Hall:
Furnishings and Equipment ....$ 10,000.00
Police Department and Jail:
Land and Buildings 3,000.00
Equipment 2,000.00
Fire Department:
Land and Buildings 40,000.00
Apparatus, etc 70,000.00
Garbage Dump:
Land 4,000.00
Library:
Land and Buildings 45,000.00
Furniture and Fixtures 12,000.00
Books 49,650.00
Land 25,000.00
CITY-OWNED PROPERTY
Natatorium :
Land and Building $ 135,750.00
Furnishings and Equipment.... 3,300.00
Parks and Playgrounds:
Land 145,000.00
Equipment 13,000.00
Street Department:
Equipment 8,000.00
Wharves :
Buildings 425,000.00
Equipment 25,000.00
Water Front Land 67,000.00
Total $1,082,700.00
ESTIMATED VALUE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY
Real
School Estate
High School : $140,000.00
Roosevelt Junior High School 60,000.00
Lincoln 140,000.00
Washington 45,000.00
Granf 40,000.00
Stege 3 5,000.00
Peres. 70,000.00
Fairmont 25,000.00
Nystrom 35,000.00
Pullman : 10,000.00
El Cerrito 10,000.00
North Richmond 20,000.00
East Richmond 28,000.00
Kensington 1 8,000.00
Harding 30,000.00
Building
$270,000.00
310,000.00
125,000.00
85,000.00
70,000.00
75,000.00
40,000.00
45,000.00
40,000.00
10,000.00
Furnishings and
Equipment
$35,000.00
25,000.00
15,000.00
7,000.00
8,000.00
8,000.00
5,000.00
3,000.00
2,500.00
800.00
55,000.00
55,000.00
1,500.00
Total
$445,000.00
395,000.00
230,000.00
137,000.00
118,000.00
118,000.00
115,000.00
73,000.00
77,500.00
20,800.00
10,000.00
20,000.00
28,000.00
74,500.00
85,000.00
Total $1,996,800.00
FINANCIAL STATEMENT, CITY OF RICHMOND
Receipts, Disbursements and Balances
City Funds
Balance
July 1. 1925 Receipts Disbursements
General Fund $123,592.74 $551,115.01 $563,024.40
Compensation Insurance Fund 18,313.46 641.06 384.17
Library Fund 4,226.39 27,752.77 28,345.32
School Fund 6,101.56 10,659.68 10,79S.84
Harbor Improvement Fund 87,769.71 27,347.11 102,706.75
Park and Playground Fund 18,442.09 72.00 2,715.01
Natatorium Building Fund 75,367.71 75,367.71
1912 Bond Int. and Redemption Fund.... 20,042.57 69,287.93 68,375.00
1920 Bond Int. and Redemption Fund.... 3,128.75 34,801.64 35,180.00
1922 Bond Int. and Redemption Fund.... 6,191.30 7,994.75 10,100.00
1924 Bond Int. and Redemption Fund... 5,970.52 5,329.84 6,687.50
Total $369,146.80 $735,001.79 $903,684.70
School Funds
Richmond School District
Balance
July 1, 1925 Receipts Disbursements
General Fund $ 4,029.42 $ 43,937.22 $ 28,870.05
Salary Fund 159,176.05 157,418.00
Special Fund 8,704.92 158,625.78 127,370.08
Building Fund 3,257.21 289,291.27 55,688.27
Library Fund 3,601.65 4,000.00 3,279.71
Kindergarten Fund 2,147.76 13,097.06 10,752.99
Total $ 21,740.96 $668,127.38 $383,379.10
Balance
June 30, 1926
$111,683.35
18,570.35
3,633.84
5,962.40
12,410.07
15,799.08
20,955.50
2,750.39
4,086.05
4,612.86
$200,463.89
Balance
June 30. 1926
$ 19,096.59
1,758.05
39,960.62
236,860.21
4,321.94
4,491.83
$306,489.24
140 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CHAPTER VII
PITTSBURG
The city of Pittsburg has at present (1925) an estimated population
of 7500. The site of what is now Pittsburg was brought into public no-
tice when the United States Army and Navy engineers investigated it as
a possible military and naval base, but little ever came of their investiga-
tions, though a townsite was surveyed and given the name "New York
of the Pacific."
In his "Early Recollections of California" General Sherman says: "I
made a contract to survey, for Col. J. D. Stevenson, his newly projected
city of New York of the Pacific, situated at the mouth of the San Joaquin
River. The contract also embraced the making of soundings and marking
out of a channel in Suisun Bay. We hired a small metallic boat with a
sail, in San Francisco, laid in some stores and proceeded to the United
States ship Ohio. At General Smith's request we surveyed and marked
the line dividing the city of Benicia from the government reserve. We
then sounded the bay back and forth and staked out the best channel up
Suisun Bay. We then made the preliminary survey of the city of New
York of the Pacific, which we duly platted."
It is understood that General Sherman received $500 and ten lots
in the new townsite for his services.
In 1850 a strong effort was made to remove the State's capital, then
at San Jose, to New York of the Pacific.
When coal was discovered in commercial quantities the place became
known as Black Diamond. The main support of Black Diamond was
from the coal mines and the fishing industry; and the latter is quite an item
in the present prosperity of the city. However, the present growth and
development are largely due to the efforts of the late C. A. Hooper and
the C. A. Hooper Company. When Mr. Hooper became owner of the
Rancho Los Medanos, on which the town is located, he believed there was
a great industrial future for the place, and in every way possible he aided
in its upbuilding. He interested San Francisco capitalists and boosted for
the town. Since his death, in July, 1914, his son-in-law, W. E. Creed, a
well-known attorney of the metropolis, has managed the Hooper interests,
carrying out the plans and ideas of Mr. Hooper so far as is possible.
The Los Medanos Rancho of 10,000 acres was granted by the Mex-
ican government in 1835 to Jose Antonio Mesa and Jose Miguel Garcia.
It was finally patented by the United States government, in October, 1872,
to their successors, J. D. Stevenson and others. In 1849-1850 the Mesas
and Garcia conveyed the rancho to Stevenson. The name Los Medanos
is derived from the sand hills that come down to the river on the eastern
boundary. Stevenson disposed of his interest to Pioche, Bayerque & Com-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 141
pany, a banking firm in San Francisco. They sold to L. L. Robinson, one
of the pioneer mining men and railroad builders. Upon his death it be-
came the property of his sister, Mrs. Cutter, and she in turn disposed of
it to C. A. Hooper. Robinson had divided the large acreage into smaller
parcels and had rented it out to stockmen. The name Pittsburg was be-
stowed upon the city in 1911 because of its industrial possibilities.
The city has had a phenomenal growth through the concerted efforts
of its leading citizens. In January, 1920, municipal bonds were voted and
carried 9 to 1 for a water system, $140,000; city hall, $75,000; library,
$7500; streets, $125,000; municipal wharf, $40,000; sewers, $20,000;
storm sewer, $15,000; fire apparatus, $10,000; street cleaning apparatus,
$7500.
The fire apparatus consists of two Seagrave engines. The service is
motorized, and maintains two salaried men and a volunteer department.
The fire engine arrived in October, 1920.
The city hall was dedicated April 14, 1923, and is valued at $75,000;
the land upon which the building stands is valued at $25,000. In 1924
the Veterans' Memorial Building was completed at a cost of $25,000.
The schools of Pittsburg are without equal in the county. In 1915
the brick grammar school building was erected at a cost of $80,000. There
is a kindergarten school, and the city is in the Riverview Union High
School district. In April, 1921, bonds were voted, 329 for and 65 against,
in the amount of $100,000 for a new school building, and it is a decided
ornament to the city, though it is inadequate for the present attendance.
The municipal dock was completed in 1925. The Free Public Library
was erected from a $20,000 bond issue. The sewer system is being gradu-
ally extended by the bond issue for $40,000. The Municipal Water Sys-
tem, valued at $140,000, is being extended. In 1919 the Black Diamond
Water Company was taken over by the Pittsburg Water Company.
The Chamber of Commerce has 150 active members and there is
an active Business Men's Association. In 1915 the Pittsburg Athletic As-
sociation was formed. Its membership includes all the leading business
men and officials. A block of land, donated by the C. A. Hooper Company,
was improved for a recreation park, and a grandstand was erected to ac-
commodate 1000 people.
A tree warden was appointed in 1915 and trees were set out on all
the principal streets. The work was carefully planned by the citizens. The
trees comprise many California varieties. Property owners vie with each
other in lawn and flower planting. All streets are paved. Railroad Street
is the principal business thoroughfare.
Pittsburg is served by the Pacific Gas & Electric and the Great West-
ern Power Companies; by the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe, and Sacramento
and San Francisco Short Line railroads, with auto busses connecting with
the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern electric. River boats run from the docks
to and from San Francisco and river points, carrying fruit, produce, and
passengers.
142 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Pittsburg Dispatch, a weekly newspaper, was started by A. P.
Butterworth and H. C. Jackson, the first issue appearing on January 3,
1917. The Pittsburg Post is another live paper.
Banking facilities are provided by the Mercantile Trust Company and
the First National Bank. The latter began business in 1919, C. Lepori,
president.
The first brick building on Railroad Avenue was the post office build-
ing, and was erected in 1912. Hotel Los Medanos, a modern hotel, was
built by the C. A. Hooper Company in 1917 at a cost of $60,000.
Principal Industrial Firms
The Great Western Electro-Chemical Company, the only plant of its
kind west of Detroit, is incorporated for $2,000,000. Its first officers were
Mortimer Fleishhacker, president; John F. Bush, vice-president; Arthur
Lillienthal, secretary and treasurer. C. W. Schedler was superintendent
until 1919, when he was made general manager. Some 300 men are em-
ployed at the plant.
The Pioneer Rubber Works, the largest west of Chicago, employ
some 350 people and make a specialty of garden hose, 12,000,000 feet
being manufactured annually. They also manufacture fire hose, belting,
packing, auto tires, caustic soda and chloride of lime. They make con-
veyor belts, and in 1925 filled an order for the largest belts ever made.
These were two belts, thirty-six inches wide and about a quarter of a
mile in length, which were installed in the sugar refinery at Crockett. The
plant covers fifteen acres of ground, and the company is capitalized at
$2,500,000.
In June, 1910, ground was broken for the Columbia Steel Company's
plant. On November 22 of that year, the first heat was poured at the
foundry, and the original casting is still in use in the yard of the plant.
The. original foundry was 300 by 60 feet; the original open-hearth unit,
100 by 25 feet; and at present the total is about 618 feet in the main bay.
In 1916 the second open-hearth was completed; and in 1917 the finishing
department was put in operation. The present capacity is 10,000 tons per
month. Some 1500 men are employed in the plant, more than ten times
the first month's payroll.
The Redwood Manufacturers Company was the pioneer manufactur-
ing concern to locate here. The plant gets its material from the Humboldt
redwoods and manufactures tanks, pipe, doors, etc. Its products are
shipped to all parts of the United States and Europe.
The Lanteri Shipbuilding Company was established by B. P. Lan-
teri. Here dredgers and ships are built. Some of the largest clamshell
dredgers in the world have been built at this plant, which is now owned
by Bundesen and Lauritzen.
The National Chemical Company; Booth's Cannery, the largest on
the Coast, employing more than 1000 men in catching salmon, shad, striped
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 143
bass and catfish, and 200 to 300 men in canning and packing fish; and
the Western California Fish Company, are other important concerns.
Fraternal Organizations
Pittsburg Lodge No. 429, F. & A. M., was organized on January 20,
1912, with twenty-two Master Masons, mostly demitted from Antioch
Lodge. The first meeting was held February 20, 1912. On October 10,
1912, its charter was granted; and on November 9, the lodge was insti-
tuted and officers installed. There is an Eastern Star Chapter also.
Other lodges are Pittsburg Lodge No. 436, I. O. O. F.; Los Medanos
Lodge, Daughters of Rebekah, I. O. O. F. ; Knights of Pythias; and Loyal
Order of Moose. B. P. O. E. No. 1474 was organized in October, 1923.
An Elks Hall Association was formed, and a lot was secured at the south-
east corner of Los Medanos and Tenth Streets for a modern Elks hall.
There is an Aerie of Eagles; and the Foresters and Improved Order of
Red Men are represented, as are also the Native Sons (Parlor No. 246)
and Native Daughters (Parlor No. 146). David Solari Post of the
American Legion was organized and named in honor of one of those who
made the supreme sacrifice in the Argonne. There are also many benefit
lodges and societies represented in this fast growing city.
CHAPTER VIII
ANTIOCH
The city of Antioch was first known as New York of the Pacific, and
sometimes was called Smith's Landing. Its founder, William W. Smith,
with his brother, J. H. Smith, both preachers, had come to California via
Cape Horn in 1849 and, landing in San Francisco, he found that men
were wanted by J. D. Stevenson for carpenter work at a place about fifty
miles away. Being an architect, and handy with carpenter's tools, he ac-
cepted a position at $14 per day and at once he and his brother embarked
on the Rialto for that point, where J. D. Stevenson and Dr. William
Parker had purchased a part of the Los Medanos Grant from Jose
Antonio Mesa. Soon after the arrival of the Smiths at New York of the
Pacific, they were called upon by Dr. John Marsh, who came down from
his rancho and offered them the hospitality of his home.
W. W. Smith, who came from Maine, was appointed the first alcalde
of the place and as such had charge of all sanitary, civil, criminal and ju-
dicial affairs of his district. In carrying out the duties of his office, Smith
spent $2000 in time, money, and medicines, none of which was ever repaid.
In 1850, W. W. Smith, hearing of the arrival in San Francisco of a
shipload of settlers from Maine, went down and found a number of fam-
ilies who wished to obtain land and settle in California. Among them were
Capt. George W. Kimball and brother, a Mr. Douglass, several named
144 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Hathaway, a Mr. Marshall and son Benjamin, and a Mr. Dennison. They
came to Smith's Landing. A street was laid out running east and west, and
each family who wished to settle was presented with a lot.
Pulsifer Brothers established a garden on the flat and watered it by
means of a wooden pump fixed in the slough.
Smith erected the first building in the township, which was called the
Sew York House, to which he later added a large oven for baking bread
and cakes, and in which even an entire beef could be roasted. Besides earn-
ing $14 a day as a builder, Smith during the evening occasionally fried
$50 worth of doughnuts, and baked bread, etc., the bread being worth $1
per loaf. Men working on the river boats often paid $1 for the privilege
of sleeping on the floor of the New York House in their own blankets.
Later, Smith leased the New York House to his brother's widow and
moved to a ranch near where Antioch now stands.
The second house was erected by John Beemer, agent for Stevenson
& Parker; and he was also the first postmaster and justice of the peace.
The third building was built for Dr. Forejo of San Francisco, in which
H. F. Toy opened a saloon.
In 1850 Howard Nichols purchased the ship Mt. Vernon and turned
it into a receiving hulk, where steamers took on and discharged cargoes
and passengers. In 1851 he fitted it up as a boarding-house.
A man named Lord; H. H. Hartley, a lawyer; and a Mr. Bodfish
were among the early settlers. J. C. McMaster, a Forty-niner, with Wil-
liam Dupee, operated the Flying Cloud on the Sacramento and San Joaquin
Rivers and located in Antioch. He later became a member of the board
of supervisors.
On July 4, 1851, a basket picnic was held at the residence of W. W.
Smith, which stood on the main street of the town. The principal topic
discussed at the gathering was the naming of the town. There were be-
tween thirty and forty men, women and children present. A chairman was
chosen, and several names were proposed, among them Minton, after a
steamer that ran up and down the river. This name was suggested in the
hope that by its adoption the Minton might be induced to stop at the
landing. Another name proposed was Paradise. Deacon Pulsifer arose
and said that there were many claimants to the lands in California, and
they might lose their lands and it would then be 'Paradise Lost'." W.
W. Smith then proposed that inasmuch as the first settlers were disciples
of Christ, and one of them (his brother, Joseph Smith) had died and
was buried on the land, that it be given a Bible name in his honor. He
suggested Antioch, and so it was acclaimed.
The first school was established in the settlement in 1850 and was
held in the galley of a ship owned by Captain Mitchell, which had been
moved on shore. Adelia B. Kimball, a girl of twelve, daughter of Capt.
G. W. Kimball, was the teacher. She later became Mrs. A. B. Schott.
The second teacher was James Cruickshank, who was followed by Mrs.
Woodruff. The next building used as a schoolhouse was a small one-room
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 145
house near E Street. As the community grew and more room was needed,
Joseph Galloway presented a site, the old grammar school lot, and
a wooden building was erected. Then came a two-story brick with
wooden additions which sufficed until 1890, when a substantial school build-
ing was erected. Later two grammar schools were provided through a
bond issue of $91,000, the old building being used for a kindergarten and
the first and second grades.
On June 23, 1883, Mrs. Annie Stinchfield opened a private school for
children of the primary grade.
Bonds were voted for $74,000 in 1925, and a new grammar school
building was completed in 1926. The old building was razed in Septem-
ber, 1926.
A religious gathering of people of the Congregational faith was
early organized by a Mr. Morgan. Miss Adelia Kimball started the
first Sunday school; she was assisted by Miss Drusilla Boobar and Annie
Morrison. The school met in the town hall. On June 12, 1865, a meet-
ing was held to organize a permanent church, Capt. G. W. Kimball be-
ing chairman and Rev. J. H. Warren, secretary. The following were
charter members of the First Congregational Church: Mrs. R. H. Aldon,
Mrs. M. H. Boothby, G. W. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Barrett, G. C.
Carmen, Isaac Hardy, G. W. Kimball, Almon Walton, S. C. Woodruff,
Miss Ida Fuller, Mrs. J. C. O'Brien, David Woodruff, and William Utter.
The Catholic Church was organized in 1872, when Father V. Vinzes
celebrated mass in the home of John Mulhare, where services were held
for a year. In 1873 a church was built, and in 1875 Father Patrick Cala-
han came as the first resident priest. In 1880 he built the rectory. He
died in 1902, and Father Antone Riley took charge; and in 1905 the new
and commodious church was erected through his efforts. Records at
Benicia show that the property on which the church and rectory stand was
deeded to the Catholics in 1850.
The Advent Christian Church was organized September 25, 1877, by
Mrs. M. J. Clark, an evangelist, with a charter membership of some thirty
people, many of whom were members of the First Congregational Church.
Among them were Mr. and Mrs. John Schott, T. N. Wills, Mr. and Mrs.
H. F. Beede, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hardy, Louis A. Schott, and Dr. and
Mrs. E. L. Wempler. Mrs. Clark served the church as pastor until Rev.
W. R. Young was made the first resident pastor. He served until 1900.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in September, 1899,
by Jr P. Abbott and Dr. W. S. George, at a meeting held in Hamburg
Hall. They were assisted by W. Dunnigan, L. S. Lafferty, and Isaac Laf-
ferty. Rev. James Blackledge was secured as the preacher, and he was
succeeded by Rev. Brill. In 1890 he had secured sufficient funds to build
a church building.
In 1910 the Church of Christ, Scientist, held their first meetings at
the home of one of their members. In July, 1911, an organization, with
146 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
fifteen charter members, was perfected, and in 1912 a lot was purchased
at Fifth and D Streets. In 1915 a chapel was erected; and the first meet-
ing in it was held on April 4 of that year.
San Joaquin Lodge No. 151, I. O. O. F., was instituted in Antioch on
January 9, 1869. William Girvan was the first Noble Grand. Antioch
Encampment No. 114 was organized October 9, 1908. J. T. Belshaw was
the first Chief Patriarch. On June 28, 1888, Mizpah Lodge No. 102,
D. of R., was instituted. The Odd Fellows own the old Union Hall.
Antioch Lodge No. 175, F. & A. M., was organized October 12,
1865. The First Master, under dispensation of May 21, 1865, was F.
Williams, and he continued Master after the lodge received its charter.
Ariel Chapter No. 42, O. E. S., was organized March 30, 1880. G. E.
Wright was the first Worthy Patron, and Elizabeth Williams, the first
Matron. The Masons purchased the Belshaw building in 1925.
General Winn Parlor No. 32, N. S. G. W., was organized July 26,
1884. The Native Sons are also represented by Mount Diablo Parlor
No. 101, and the Native Daughters by Antioch Parlor No. 223. Antioch
Aerie No. 785, F. O. E., was organized September 1, 1904, and Antioch
Lodge No. 1612, L. O. M., was organized in February, 1915, with Dr.
W. S. George as Dictator.
Besides these, there are the Y. M. I., No. 101; Pocahontas Lodge,
I. O. R. M.; Antioch Pyramid No. 24, Sciots; and Antioch Chapter, Or-
der of De Molay. There are also the Portuguese lodges, U. P. E. C,
U. P. P. E. C, I. D. E. S., and S. P. R. S. I.
In 1859 coal was discovered in the hills south of Antioch, and the de-
velopment of the mines added to the prosperity of the town. A railroad
was built to the mines from Antioch. In 1863 copper was discovered in
the hills, and a smelter was built in the town. The mining, however, was
short-lived.
The first lumber yard was started in 1864 by J. W. Galloway and E.
C. Boobar, who sold to Rouse, Forman & Co., in 1877. In February,
1907, the business was incorporated as the Antioch Lumber Company.
In 1865 I. Lobree started a pottery, and three years later I. Nicholson
started the Albion Pottery.
In 1899 the Antioch Paper Mill was established by M. D. Keeney.
In 1900 Peter and James Brown bought the mill, added new machinery,
and increased the output. In March, 1912, this plant became the prop-
erty of the Paraffine Paint Company, of San Francisco, and was incorpor-
ated as the California Paper and Board Mills. Numerous fires have oc-
curred at the plant.
The Antioch Ledger, a weekly paper, was established by J. E. Town-
send and Harry Waite, and its first issue was circulated on March 10,
1870. Since that date the paper has never failed to go to print. In Au-
gust Townsend became sole owner; and in December J. P. Abbott bought a
half interest, and Townsend sold the other half to E. G. Fuller, who sold
to H. A. Weaver in 1872. The following year he sold to Abbott, who
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 147
carried on the paper until 1881, when he leased it to C. H. Smith. Charles
F. Montgomery succeeded to the ownership in 1884; and when he died
his son, Curtis F. Montgomery, remained in charge until April 1, 1905,
at which date C. F. McDaniel bought the paper. In 1921 A. W. Flaherty
became the sole owner.
On September 12, 1891, the Bank of Antioch was organized; S. G.
Little, president. Its capital stock was $100,000. In 1923 it erected a
building costing $22,000.
On January 3, 1911, the First National Bank of Antioch and the
Antioch Bank of Savings began to do business. The capital stock of the
former was $25,000; and of the latter, $50,000. J. L. Harding was
president.
F. L. Fulton operates a shipbuilding plant, constructing river barges,
launches, etc.
In 1922 the R. Hickmott Canning Company was established, with
James Glenn as manager.
Antioch has a population of 2500 within its corporate limits, and is
a city of the sixth class. It was first incorporated in 1872. Later it was
disincorporated, but was again incorporated in 1890.
On December 8, 1874, the fire department was organized; F. Williams,
president; M. S. Levy, secretary; S. Jessup, foreman. The department
developed with the times, and its equipment now includes a Ford truck
chemical unit, at the central station, and four hose trucks in various
parts of the city. A Gamewell fire alarm system is in operation.
The water supply of Antioch, for domestic and other purposes, is
carried to the various parts of the town in 10-, 8-, 6-, and 4-inch pipes.
The mains are so arranged that in case of fire the domestic supply can be
cut off and the water pumped direct to the point where needed. There can
be developed 300 pounds pressure if it is needed, but generally 110 to 115
pounds pressure is used. The water comes from the river and passes
through a chlorinizing process before entering the mains. The chlorination
plant, installed in 1916, and the water system, are owned by the city.
The pumping plant cost $100,000. To develop the system, bond issues
were voted: in December, 1903, of $22,000; in 1914, of $25,000; and in
1922, of $96,000. In 1926 the Antioch domestic water supply dam, made
possible by the last bond issue, was completed. The reservoir, which has
a capacity of 100,000,000 gallons, is located about three miles back
in the hills. The bonds of this bond issue were sold at a premium of
about $8000. The total sum enabled the city to construct the dam, to lay
a fourteen-inch pipe line from the reservoir to the city, to install such
pumps as were needed, and also to build a fence around the reservoir.
This adjunct to the city's water supply insures adequate water for all
purposes for many years to come.
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company and the Contra Costa Gas &
Electric Company, of Pittsburg, supply electricity and gas for light and
power.
148 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
On December 21, 1903, a bond issue of $8000 was voted for a sewer
system. The later development of the system, which has been trebled,
has been made out of the town's resources. The total assessed value of
property in Antioch in 1912 was $539,000; in 1924, $1,500,000.
In 1919 a bond issue for $55,000 was voted for a city hall, which
was erected that year on four lots, each 25 by 100 feet, valued at
$1000 per lot. The assessed value of the new hall is $60,000 with its
furnishings.
Forty-seven blocks of oil macadam were put in in 1914, under a street
improvement act of 1911, at a cost of $84,000; in 1916-1917, fifty-
four blocks of concrete base, one and one-half inches Topeka Top, were
laid at a cost of $120,000 under the same act.
The city is served by the Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe railroads,
and a great deal of hauling is also done by auto trucks. An auto stage
line connects with the Sacramento-San Francisco Short Line hourly at
Pittsburg.
Antioch is a port of call for all river boats. There is an average depth
of sixty to eighty feet of water at the wharf. The country back of
the city is a rich dairy section, and a great deal of grain is also raised.
Fruit and nuts are another source of wealth to the back country. These
products, together with the excellent docking facilities, make of Antioch
a fine shipping point.
The Antioch Memorial Building was erected in 1925 at a cost of
$22,000, by an apportionment by the board of supervisors from a tax
levy of three mills on the property valuation, in honor of the men who
participated in the World War.
The Antioch Free Library was erected from the Carnegie Foundation
Fund.
The city officers in 1925 are: James D. Donlon, president of the
board; R. M. Beede, treasurer; John E. McElheny, city clerk; members:
W. A. Christiansen, H. A. West, George W. Harter, and R. A. Wall.
CHAPTER IX
CONCORD
In 1869 Salvio Pacheco, Fernando Pacheco, and Francisco Galindo
laid out the town of Concord, platting lots and streets. There were nine-
teen blocks and a plaza. The laying out of the town was undertaken in
order to afford people living at Pacheco, who were continually being
flooded out, an opportunity to locate on higher ground, because every flood
necessitated rebuilding, repairing or raising buildings that had been dam-
aged by the water. The donor of the land suggested the name Todos
Santos (All Saints). This is the name by which the town was recorded.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 149
The Americans dubbed it "Drunken Indian," but the public finally gave
it the name it now bears.
When the town was laid out it was decided by the founders that if
those who lived and did business in Pacheco would locate in Concord,
a certain number of lots would be given them free. Samuel Bacon was
the first man to take advantage of this offer; and in June, 1869, he built
a store and residence on the new townsite, at what is now the site of the
American Bank. That summer Charles Lohse built a machine shop. Henry
Loring erected the Klein Hotel, which later became known as the Concord
Hotel. Several other business houses and homes were erected.
Among the first settlers were John Brawand, who had a livery stable;
and George Gavin, who ran a blacksmith shop. H. Ivey also had a livery.
J. H. Keller, a Forty-niner, opened the first butcher shop. Foskett &
Elsworthy bought out Keller in 1869 or 1870. John Wiechers con-
ducted the Mount Diablo Hotel until his death. This hotel stood on the
site of the Concord Inn. The first bakery was opened by John Lambert,
who, in 1889, erected a building of his own, more adequate for his bus-
iness. Others were John Turney, B. Mahoney, John Denkenger, A.
Gehringer, and Philip Klein. Klein ran the Concord Hotel; Charles Klein,
his son, now conducts a drug store. F. C. Galindo, grandson of one of
the founders of Concord, is proprietor of the Concord Department Store.
M. Neustaedter, son of B. Neustaedter, with his sisters, runs a store
in the town. M. S. Soares was another of the poineers. His sons, J. M.
and George, own the Concord Ice & Fuel Company. Henry Bott, a black-
smith and wagon-maker, has been on the same corner with his plant for'
fifty years. He was a member of the first board of trustees upon the
incorporation of the town and is still a member. In 1892, with a partner.
Mr. Smith, he erected a new shop building.
Pacheco Lodge No. 117, I. O. O. F., was organized in 1863, with
G. P. Loucks as first Noble Grand. On January 1, 1896, the hall was
moved from Pacheco to Concord and dedicated.
Besides the Odd Fellows Lodge, there are the W. O. W., Neighbors
of Woodcraft, I. O. R. M., U. P. E. C, and I. D. E. S.; Concord
Parlor No. 245, N. S. G. W.; Mount Diablo Lodge No. 228, D. of R.;
Concord Chapter, O. E. S. ; Mount Diablo Lodge No. 448, F. & A. M.,
organized in 1915; and Y. M. I., organized July 31, 1887.
Concord has a Catholic church, a Presbyterian church, a Christian
church, and a Church of Christ Scientist, organized in the order given. In
1873 a Catholic church was erected. In December 1882, a Presbyterian
church was organized, with Rev. D. Monroe as pastor; and William
Caven, John Brawand and E. A. Jaquith, trustees.
The first school was established in 1870 and was taught by Mrs. Henry
Polley. A grammar school was built in 1892, and a high school in 1906.
Foskett & Elsworthy founded the First National Bank, now a branch
of the American Bank.
150 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Bank of Concord was established in 1900 by M. E. Lyon, who
also built the Concord Inn.
The Concord Sun was founded by S. Fargeon. Later the name was
changed to the Concord Transcript and the ownership fell to H. A.
Downer. He was succeeded by J. S. Taylor, who sold to H. E. Griffith.
Griffith sold to Mrs. N. K. Cushing. In 1910 a corporation called the
Transcript Publishing Company was organized and published a paper
every Thursday. This corporation was dissolved in 1914, when Catherine
Burke purchased the paper. She married J. M. Soares, and together
they direct the paper's destinies.
On February 5, 1905, Concord was incorporated as a city of the
sixth class. B. Elsworthy was the first president of the board; Joseph
Boyd, the second; E. J. Randall, third; J. M. Finney, fourth; H. W.
Bott, fifth; J. M. Soto, sixth; Charles Klein, seventh; and D. J. Bald-
win the eighth president.
Since the incorporation of the town, which now has 2100 population,
$200,000 have been spent for street work. The city issued bonds in the
amount of $29,000 for a sewer system, and pays $1,000 a year interest
on them. Concord was the first town of its size to have paved streets,
which were put down in 1914-1915.
The P. G. & E. and the Great Western Gas & Electric Company
supply electricity for power and lighting, and the Contra Costa Gas
Company, in 1916, began to supply gas for fuel and domestic purposes.
Port Costa Water Company supplies pure water for all purposes.
On April 12, 1879, a fire department was organized, and this has
grown with the town and is now equipped with a La France chemical
engine, purchased in 1925, at a cost of $6000. The old chemical engine is
owned jointly by the town and the Farm Bureau.
On April 25, 1917, Concord was visited by a fire which destroyed
the business portion of the. town, including the Concord Inn, Concord
Mercantile Company, B. Neustaedter's store, the office of Drs. L.
Martin and Edward Johnson, and M. C. Meehan's hardware store, the
law offices of A. S. Sherlock, and some apartments.
In 1912 the Oakland & Antioch Electric Railway entered the town,
and then many of the old landmarks gave way to modern buildings.
Among the modern buildings in Concord are the M. E. Lyon Building,
Bacon Block, Majestic Theater, J. J. January Building, Seifried Building,
Concord Auto Service Station, Chevrolet and Ford, the new grammar
school erected in 1924, and the high school. The new auditorium of the
grammar school was opened in 1926.
The Mount Diablo Union High School in Concord is the second
largest school in the county, having twenty teachers and a student body of
400. The district takes in a territory surrounding Concord that in-
cludes the towns of Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Bay Point, Clayton, Cowell,
Avon, and Pacheco. The total assessed valuation of the district is over
$13,000,000.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 151
A Carnegie Library and a branch of the Contra Costa County Library
serve the people of the locality with reading matter.
A Chamber of Commerce has been in continuous service since its organ-
ization in 1917.
There are heavy shipments of green and dried fruits, nuts, and all
kinds of farm products sent out from Concord annually over the Southern
Pacific and the Sacramento Short Line. The Concord Ice & Fuel Company
and Russi & Somer have ample storage warehouses. There are four fruit
packing-houses at Minert Station, a short distance from town.
In 1925 hangars were built near Concord for the Diablo Air Mail
Field Base for air mail transportation. The following newspaper reference
to this base appeared under the date of January 26, 1925 :
"Six government planes detailed to the federal air mail will use the
base as a test field for an indefinite period, starting today.
"In establishing the Concord trans-continental terminus the federal
government has stationed fourteen air plane experts at the local base.
"The site is practically immune from the almost continual land and
bay fogs of surrounding regions. Because of this and the adaptability
of the ground formation for landing purposes, the experts declare it an
excellent location."
CHAPTER X
CROCKETT
The town of Crockett, six miles below Martinez on Carquinez Straits,
was named in honor of J. B. Crockett, a member of the Supreme Bench of
California. The original townsite consisted of eighteen blocks divided
into lots 50 by 100 feet each, with the streets running east and west.
The town is the location of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining
Company, the largest plant of its kind in the world, representing an in-
vestment of more than $7,000,000 and employing about 2000 people. The
fine water-front of Crockett permits vessels of the deepest draft to load
and discharge cargoes. The Sugar Company is very liberal in civic affairs;
it furnishes a playground for the children, and a club house for the grown-
ups. This is recognized as a community center club house.
Thomas Ewdards, the Founder of Crockett
"Thomas Edwards, founder of Crockett, was born in North Wales on
April 5, 1812. At the age of fourteen he went to sea and continued before
the mast for ten years. He then became mate on a Mississippi River
boat, where he met J. B. Crockett and W. C. Ralston. On February 9,
1843, he married Mary Pugh, who was also born in North Wales, on
July 20, 1819. In 1849 they started for California. They wintered in
Council Bluffs and started the next spring with forty men and ten wagons
152 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
for California, reaching the end of the journey in September, 1850. He
came almost immediately to the Carquinez Straits and engaged in the
stock business on 1800 acres of land. The rest of his life is the history of
Crockett. He died February 15, 1883. Two sons, Thomas and David,
still make their home in Crockett."
The above quotation, and the following data relative to the founding
of the town of Crockett, were taken from the Crockett Signal of November
17, 1922, when there was published a special edition at the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the founding of the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refinery.
Thomas Edwards, Sr., came to Carquinez Straits in 1866 and located
in Bull Valley (Port Costa). J. B. Crockett, a practicing attorney and
a friend of Mr. Edwards, came into possession of a strip of land one
mile long on the straits and running three miles south, as counsel fees in
settling a grant suit. Crockett and Edwards entered into a partnership
on the land, but Edwards was unable to secure possession on account of
squatters on the land. These men were living in a cabin, the present site
of the A. H. Boucke home, and were cutting wood back in the hills and
shipping by boat to the bay section. Watching their opportunity when the
men were away from their cabin, Mr. Edwards and his sons took posses-
sion. When the men came back to their cabin and found themselves dis-
possessed, they went to the Fernandez ranch at Pinole, organized a band
of sixteen men, and started back to oust the Edwards's. Mr. Fernandez,
who knew the circumstances of Edwards' claim, hearing of the band of
men leaving his ranch, mounted a horse and overtook them and succeeded
in turning them back. The history of Crockett dates from 1867, when the
Edwards family settled here, where they have since made their home.
Thomas and David are the only survivors of the family.
Thomas Edwards erected his family home on the bay shore, in a little
cove overlooking the water, the shore-line being just at the edge of his
front yard. The shore-line has gradually receded until it is several hun-
dred feet to the water's edge. There was an old Indian burying-ground
in the immediate vicinity. The townsite comprised 115 acres. Edwards
sold to J. L. Heald, who built a machine shop of brick and a foundry. He
helped lay out the town. Edwards received $50 per acre, but reserved
every other lot. The Edwards house is still standing in a grove of trees,
most of which were planted by Mrs. Edwards.
Notes From the Diary of John Edwards
The following items are taken from the Signal, as copied from a diary
kept by John Edwards. In 1877 the Southern Pacific was pushing its road
along Carquinez Straits, construction having begun in 1876.
"Feb. 6, 1877 — The engineers arrived; 300 men are working on the
railroad.
"May 31. — Railroad men began driving piles for Edwards' wharf.
"June 5. — The carpenters began work. The graders commenced on
the local water-front.
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CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 153
"June 12. — Construction work was halted on account of a dispute over
rights of way over Donahue and Robinson's land.
"June 13. — A schooner carrying forty Chinese workmen for the rail-
road was nearly wrecked on the rocky point [where the sugar factory now
stands].
''Aug. 22. — Hugh Edwards and a friend made a trip to San Francisco
on the cars.
''Sept. 3. — Railroad men are stringing telegraph poles along the right-
of-way; cars came up in sight of Edwards' house.
"Sept. 5. — Election day, and all went to Martinez, over the new county
road for the first time, to vote. P. Tormey was elected supervisor.
"Sept. 11. — Rails laid past Edwards' house and cars passed. Engine
35 pulled a train of thirty-five cars and I rode on the train.
"Sept. 25. — The first passenger train, with Leland Stanford on board,
went through to Martinez.
"Oct. 9. — The first morning newspapers were received by train.
"Dec. 16. — A jury brought in a verdict for $1600 in favor of Robinson
in damage suit over rights of way.
"June 23, 1878. — Two engines hauling forty-three cars of lumber and
iron for the tunnel came up.
"July 5. — Passenger trains began making regular stops opposite
Edwards' house.
"July 18. — A letter was received from the railroad authorities, mak-
ing Edwards' place a flag station.
"Aug. 30. — Overland trains began passing.
."Dec. 18. — Billings' Engine No. 28 ran into the morning emigrant
train, telescoping three cars and injuring several people.
"Dec. 22. — A great quantity of lumber for Port Costa ferry ship
arrived.
"March 20, 1879. — Mr. Gordon, telegraph operator, opened Valona
station. He is stopping at Edwards' house.
"April 5. — Valona office abandoned.
"April 25. — Fire destroys James McHarry's store.
"Dec. 8, 1880. — Edwards opened negotiations to buy Judge Crockett's
interest in the ranch for $30,000.
"Dec. 29. — A sidetrack was surveyed for the Edwards's.
"Dec. 30. — Mr. Heald of Vallejo arrived, looking for a foundry site.
"Feb. 12, 1881.— The Gazette says that J. E. Eckley transferred 250
acres to Frances Eckley and Carrie Adams for $5000.
"March 9. — A. D. Starr and partner of the Buckeye Mills in Vallejo
are around looking for a site.
"May 20. — An express office has been established at Vallejo Junction.
"June 25. — Dr. Strentzel and Mr. Edwards view the franchise made
with Lee for tidelands.
154 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
"July 29. — Mr. Edwards finished the survey for the outline of a town-
site.
"Oct. 8. — Mr. Starr called to see about getting a mill-site.
"Nov. 7. — T. A. McMahon, of Martinez, came down to survey the
town-site.
"Nov. 18. — Grading began for a hotel.
"Jan. 16, 1882. — The carpenters are putting up rafters on Heald's
foundry.
"Feb. 17. — The Pinkerton House was opened to the public.
"Feb. 22.- — The first load of machinery for Heald arrived.
"March 2. — Mr. Heald turned the first wheel in his foundry with a
threshing engine.
"March 3. — The foundry is in operation. The whistle blew at noon
for the first time.
"March 10. — A meeting was held with the Port Costans on the school
question. They ran the meeting to suit themselves.
"March 11. — An election was held to elect W. S. Cown, Doyle and
John Edwards trustees of Carquinez district.
"March 13. — A man named Welsh was around looking for a mill-site
and seemed favorably impressed.
"May 23. — The lumber arrived for J. C. Glancy's house.
"May 27. — School trustees go to San Francisco and purchase $130.45
worth of supplies.
"June 5. — School began with eighteen scholars. Miss Lottie Bent is
the teacher. James and Nellie Narbett and three Perrin children are
among the pupils.
"July 20. — The first town water tank was set up by William Narbett
for Mr. Edwards and a pipe line laid to it.
"Aug. 10. — The foundrymen gave their first ball; there were twenty-
seven couples present.
"Aug. 16. — There are three Port Costa children in the Crockett
school.
"Sept. 9. — Two freight cars ran off the Solano Ferry today.
"Nov. 18. — Starr & Company accepted the franchise offer of Edwards.
"Nov. 29. — The deed was signed by Edwards and the franchise turned
over to Starr & Co.
"Dec. 31. — The heaviest snowstorm ever experienced; six inches of
snow fell and stayed on the ground seven days.
"Jan. 18, 1883. — Starr got his quit claim deed to high land across the
track. [Hotel Crockett is now on the site.]
"Feb. 4. — Pile driver arrived.
"Feb. 6. — The Mary Glover brought a load of piles for Starr's mill.
"Feb. 15. — Thos. Edwards, Sr., died. He was buried on the 18th
at Martinez.
"April 7. — Legion of Honor organized. There are twenty members.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 155
"April 12. — A wind storm scattered lumber for Starr's mill about
the Straits.
"April 15. — The first church services were held in Crockett settlement.
About thirty-five attended. Mr. Ballagh preached.
"April 23. — A site was chosen for a Congregational Church.
"April 29. — The first church services were held at Port Costa; twelve
people attended. Rev. Drahms preached.
"May 4. — The Barkentine Restler was the first vessel to berth at the
Starr wharf.
"June 15. — There was a postoffice established at Crockett.
"July 7. — The first load of groceries was received for Mr. Barnhisel.
He has the first store in Crockett.
"July 14. — The school was reorganized. Miss Jones, teacher.
"July 21.- — Dr. Strentzel gave A. D. Starr a block of land.
"July 31.- — The lumber was put on the ground for the first house on
Dr. Strentzel's town-site, Valona.
"Sept. 22. — Masons began laying brick for the flour mill."
Later Growth of the Town
At the close of 1883 Crockett contained: the Pinkerton place, now
Deininger's; Heald's foundry; schoolhouse; postoffice; Barnhisel's store;
Edwards Brothers' market; Daniel Brown's house, the first one built on
the townsite; and the homes of M. A. Hayes, John Flood, J. C. Glancy,
William Narbett, William Perrin, W. E. Parks, C. H. Gardiner, and a
few others.
In 1897 the California Beet Sugar & Refining Company, R. P. Riblet,
the first president, purchased the Starr Mill and converted it into a beet
and cane sugar factory. The California & Hawaiian Sugar Company took
charge in 1905, and began melting in March, 1906. That year they melted
67,000 tons. This company has grown into the largest refining company in
the world, and has a melting capacity of 4,500,000 pounds.
April 22, 1899, the Crockett Signal says the Carquinez school district
had an attendance of 166.
The first newspaper in Crockett was the Record, and the first issue
was put out on Saturday, January 1 1, 1896. Hart A. Downer was editor
and publisher. The Record was discontinued on December 19, 1896. On
April 8, 1899, W. G. Howes founded the Crockett Signal, which lasted
only a short time. In December, 1903, the Signal was revived, and it con-
tinued until November 19, 1904. In Januapy, 1906, W. M. Laidlaw again
revived the paper. He has since continued its management very success-
fully, building up a fine job-printing business in connection with the paper.
Crockett now has a population of 4000. It has a First National Bank,
organized in 1919 with $25,000 capital, which was increased to $50,000.
T. J. O'Leary was the first president and F. W. Hutchinson was president
in 1926. There is also a branch of the Bank of Pinole, established in 1908.
156 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Congregational Church of Crockett, built in 1884, and the Pres-
byterian Church of Valona are combined under the head of the Crockett
Community Church. There is also the St. Rose's Catholic Church.
The school has developed from the one first organized in June, 1883,
with eighteen pupils, to a very modern institution containing twenty-six
rooms, with 476 scholars and a principal and twenty-two teachers. The
John Swett Union High School is also located at Crockett, and has 212
pupils and eighteen teachers. On Sunday, October 24, 1926, the laying
of the cornerstone of the new John Swett Union High School building
was observed with appropriate ceremonies. This is to be one of the finest
and most modern high school buildings in the county.
In 1916 a Y. M. C. A. building was dedicated. The Carquinez Wo-
men's Clubhouse, the Loring Theater, Crockett Music House and Crockett
Theater are among the modern buildings that ornament the town.
The town is amply protected from fire by its volunteer department with
modern equipment. The Sugar Company maintains its own department,
made up of its own employees. The Valona department is also a volun-
teer organization. One of the latest municipal developments in Crockett
was the purchase, by the city, of the old Salvation Army barracks on the
north side of Loring Street, between West and Bay Streets, for a per-
manent fire house. The building was remodeled after plans drawn at
the suggestion of Lloyd Edwards, fire chief, who had visited many cities
and made inspection of their fire houses. The plans were approved
by the trustees and the building was completed and taken over by the de-
partment on March 29, 1926. The building has ample accommodations
for the La France Triple Combination fire engine and a combination hose
and chemical cart. The upper floor is fitted out with eight single, modernly
equipped and furnished bedrooms for the volunteer firemen who wish to
live there. There are also a kitchenette with all appurtenances, a meeting
or dining room, a fine clubroom facing Loring Street and shower baths and
toilets. There are thirty-one men in the department, all volunteers. The
Crockett fire department cooperates with the fire fighters of the C. & H. at
all times, as do the latter with the local department when needed.
As a means of promoting good-will, there is a Crockett and Valona
Business Men's Association. There are also a Citizen's Improvement
Association that works continually for civic betterment, and a Girl's Club.
Almost every lodge and fraternal organization is represented in
Crockett, among them: Carquinez Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M.; Crockett
Chapter No. 1 84, O. E. S. ; Crockett Lodge No. 329,1. O. O. F. ; Crockett
Encampment No. 43; Carmel Lodge No. ISO, D. of R.; Crockett Aerie
No. 774, F. O. E.; Carquinez Tribe No. 98, I. O. R. M.; Selby Lodge
No. 192, K. of P.; Court Carquinez No. 1001, I. O. F. ; Neola Council
No. 172, I. O. R. M.; Degree of Pocahontas; Carquinez Parlor No. 205,
N. S. G. W.; Court Chris Bremmer No. 166, F. of A.; Alhambra Circle
No. 205, Neighbors of Woodcraft; Crockett Post No. 33. American Le-
gion; Camp Fire Girls; Boy Scouts; Carquinez Woman's Club; Contra
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 157
Costa Chapter, U. A. O. D.; Cavour Grove No. 192, U.A. O. D.; Cro-
lona Circle No. 70, U. A. O. D. ; Consello Florida do Esperanca No. 59,
U. P. E. C; Council Santa Rosa No. 29, I. D. E. S.; and Carquinez Par-
lor No. 234, N. D. G. W.
The Veteran's Memorial Hospital was erected in 1925, by a tax
levied by the supervisors, costing about $20,000.
CHAPTER XI
EL CERRITO
The beginning of what is now one of the best residential cities in
Contra Costa County took place when, in 1888, William F. Rust, a
blacksmith, located a shop on San Pablo Avenue in which to ply his trade.
This was then the center of a good farming community; and in order to
meet the demands of ranchers, Mr. Rust leased property and built his
shop. The community grew apace, and in 1909 a postoffice was estab-
lished, Mr. Rust being appointed the first postmaster, which position he
occupied for three years; in fact, he was postmaster, blacksmith and
general counselor to the settlers of this district, which was then known as
Rust. Mr. Rust is now living retired, having invested his money wisely
in real estate in this district. In September, 1917, it was found desirable
to incorporate the town as a city of the sixth class, and it was given the
name of El Cerrito (The Little Hill). At that time the population had
grown to about 1500 souls.
In 1905 a school was established and soon after a community church,
under the direction of a Methodist preacher. There was, however, a
Catholic church established a short time prior to that of the Methodists.
Both of these congregations have grown, and in 1925 both erected new
edifices. In 1916 the school was taken into the jurisdiction of Richmond;
and in 1924 a modern school building was erected, where eight grammar
grades are carried on. In 1926 an extensive addition was made to the
building to accommodate the increase in attendance; also a modern school
building was erected on Fairmont Avenue.
The estimated population of El Cerrito, in 1926, is given as about
4000. Nearly all the streets in the town are paved. During the interval
from 1917 to 1924 about forty blocks of paving were laid, and during
1924-1925 $500,000 was spent on street work. A new city hall was built
in 1925, also to house the fire department, and a fire alarm system has
been installed. This was done through a bond issue of $65,000 voted by
the people.
The first board of trustees, elected in 1917 y were: Kirk Gray, P. A.
Lee, J. Sandwick, G. W. Adams and P. Larson. Mr. Gray was elected
chairman of the board. This board of trustees held office until the regular
158 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
election in 1918, when P. A. Lee was chosen chairman. George Conlon
succeeded Mr. Adams at this election. Mr. Lee served as chairman until
April, 1924. He was succeeded by George Conlon, who in turn was suc-
ceeded, in 1925, by Frank McDermott. In 1926 C. Zimmerman became
the presiding officer.
The attractiveness of the city as a residential district is enhanced by its
adequate street car service, with a- one-fare rate to Richmond, ending at
Sixteenth Street, and one fare to any Oakland point; its tax rate of ninety
cents on every $100 valuation; its modern homes, with cheap rents; and its
modern public facilities and conveniences. Ninety per cent of the residents
outside of the Berkeley Country Club Terrace, own their own homes, all
of modern construction and varying in price according to the demands of
the owners. The city is in Sanitary District No. 7 and is served by the
East Bay Water Company, the Western States Gas Company, and the
Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The city limits extend along San Pablo
Avenue from the Alameda County line three miles northerly, and the
width averages about two miles, from the Avenue to the top of the Ber-
keley Hills. The Berkeley Golf Club is located at the northern boundary
of the town. The city includes about one-half of the residences on the hill,
in the Mira Vista district, a suburb of Richmond. The El Cerrito Im-
provement Club and the Berkeley Terrace Welfare Club have a distinct
bearing on the civic development of the city; while the Parent-Teachers
Association of El Cerrito looks after the educational interests of the young
and growing generation. A branch of the Contra Costa County Free Li-
brary is located in El Cerrito, and housed in a comfortable building on
Fairmont Avenue. The Berkeley Country Club Terrace Improvement
Association, which was organized on August 25, 1923, became the El
Cerrito Improvement Association March 4, 1924.
At the time of incorporation of the city the assessed valuation of prop-
erty in El Cerrito was $1,125,000; in 1925 the estimated valuation was
a little more than twice that amount. Business of nearly every description
is carried on by enterprising merchants, who esteem it a privilege to boost
their town and its advantages. The principal industry inside the corpo-
rate limits is quarrying. Bates and Borland and the Hutchinson Company
have large quarries here. The city has one enterprising newspaper, the
Journal, established in April, 1925, and published weekly by L. A. Sirard.
In 1925 the old volunteer fire department was disbanded, a new depart-
ment organized, and a new La France engine and chemical truck put in
commission. In 1926 the fire department headquarters, along with other
city offices, were moved to the new city hall.
On August 24, 1926, an annexation election was held at which territory
was added to the city in order to control the San Pablo Highway. Start-
ing on the highway at Bay View Avenue it runs west to Avila Street,
then 100 feet south to San Diego Street, westerly to Panhandle Boulevard
and southerly to the county line. This territory on the west side of San
Pablo gives El Cerrito control of San Pablo Avenue for three miles.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 159
CHAPTER XII
OTHER TOWNS OF THE COUNTY
BAY POINT
The town of Bay Point is situated on a tract of government land lying
between the Uos Medanos Grant on the east and the Monte del Diablo or
Pacheco Grant on the south and west. The land was first patented to H.
H. Smith by President U. S. Grant. Smith sold his preemption and home-
stead rights to Daniel Cunningham. This part of the tract bordered the
bay shore. Where the Smith lumber plant now is, was the site of the old
Cunningham homestead. The other part of the tract, where the business
and residential parts of the town are located, was upon land patented by
President Grant to Mr. Clark, who in turn sold to A. H. Neeley, a friend
of Mr. Cunningham. The Cunningham heirs and Mr. Neeley sold to
C. A. Smith, a large lumber manufacturer of Minneapolis, Minn., who had
decided to locate his Western business in close proximity to San Francisco
and manufacture and distribute his product. This was in 1907, when Bay
Point was a tule bog.
Mr. Smith arranged to purchase 1500 acres with one and one-half
miles of tidewater frontage from the heirs of Dan Cunningham and A.
H. Neeley. The deal was consummated and the nucleus of the town was
started on November 26, 1907. William Smith, from Pittsburg, started
the first general merchandise store in 1908-1909. The first residence was
erected by William Buholtz in 1908, the second by Samuel Gilroy that
same year.
The original name of the shipping point was Seal Bluff. The Copper
King Smelting Company erected a smelter and docks at a cost of $1,375,-
000. They closed down February 15, 1903. In 1890 there was a ware-
house built at that point, and this was the first and only warehouse ever
located at Bay Point.
Bay Point is served by the Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and San Fran-
cisco-Sacramento Short Line railroads. The town is divided into two
units. That part lying between the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe and
the bay is devoted to manufacturing; and that between the two roads and
the foothills, to residence property and business places. The main Pitts-
burg and Martinez highway passes through Bay Point, and also the main
county highway to Oakland.
In 1918, as a war measure, yards were established by the Pacific
Coast Shipbuilding Company to build ten emergency fleet ships, Diablo
being the first built. Four hundred men were given employment. The
town of Clyde was built to house the employees of the shipyard. It is
160 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
now peopled by the employees of the Associated Oil Company at Avon,
and by many of the Shell employees from Martinez.
At Bay Point are located the Coos Bay Lumber Co.'s plant; stores
of all kinds; a postoffice; a graded school with 150 pupils attending, and
five teachers (it is in the Mount Diablo Union High School district) ;
Congregational, Catholic, and Swedish Lutheran churches; Bay Point
Foundry; and the First National Bank, organized January 7, 1920, with
$25,000 capital, a branch of the First National Bank of Pittsburg. There
are also lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs,
the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Neighbors, and a Masonic Club.
The town has paved streets, cement sidewalks and curbs, an artesian
water supply system piped into the town from the hills to the south, about
one and a half miles from the Government Ranch. The population is
about 800 people, and it is a thriving locality.
DANVILLE
The town of Danville, eighteen miles south of Martinez, is located
in a horticultural district which was one of the early grain-raising sections
of Contra Costa County. It has a population of about 400 people, and
is enterprising and progressive.
Danville was started in 1858 when Daniel and Andrew Inman built
a smithy. Inman sold out to J. E. Close, who carried on the blacksmith
shop for years. In 1858 M. Cohen built the second building in the place
for a branch establishment of the store at Alamo owned and conducted by
Cohen & Wolf. This building stood for sixty years. The first hotel was
kept by H. W. Harris in 1858, and he was also the postmaster. The mail
came via stage from Walnut Creek. P. E. Peel conducted the second
store. He was succeeded by John Conway, who carried on the business for
many years.
There are two versions given regarding the naming of Danville. One
is that it was named for Dan Inman, the man who built the first building.
Another is that the honor was given "Aunt Sallie" Young, who named it
Danville after Danville, Ky., her birthplace.
There had been a schoolhouse erected in the valley, about a mile from
the townsite, in 1858; this was moved into the town in 1870 and put on
a lot in the south end of the town, where the first grammar school was
built in 1865. This building burned, and the country schoolhouse was
moved onto the plat of ground. A new building was erected in 1895 and
did duty until 1922, when the new building was erected at the north side
of the town. This modern building was built from a bond issue of
$15,000. In 1910 the Union High School was established at Danville,
known as the San Ramon Valley Union High School, and school was held
in temporary quarters until the present high school building was erected
on a site adjoining the new grammar school.
In 1872 Granger's Hall was built. The Grange is still a live organi-
zation of the district.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 161
Church services were first held in the vicinity in 1857, in a private
house, by Rev. D. McClure, a Presbyterian preacher. After 1858 serv-
ices were held in the schoolhouse. On October 1, 1875, the cornerstone
was laid for the first church edifice, a Presbyterian church, and in June,
1876, the building was dedicated, after the indebtedness of $2500 had
been fully paid. On January 1, 1876, Rev. R. S. Symington took charge
of the church work, and to him is largely due the building and finishing
of the church. Danville now has, also, a Catholic church.
There were a number of sturdy pioneers to whom great credit is due
for the upbuilding of Danville and vicinity. Among them we mention
Thomas Flournoy, who owned a ranch on the east side of the creek; J.
E. Close, a blacksmith, who purchased the Inman shop; R. O. Baldwin,
who owned a large ranch southwest of town; James Stone, a neighbor of
Baldwin's; A. J. Young, who taught school for years; a Mr. Kerr, who
owned 200 acres adjoining the town on the west, and who sold this ranch
to James Stone, who sold to John Hartz; R. B. Love, a large rancher
in this section; and W. Z. Stone, William Meese, Charles Wood, the
Boone family, Dr. J. L. Labaree, D. N. Sherburne, A. J. Young, and Bruce
Stone (who came in 1860), the last two named being still alive. De-
scendants of Flournoy, Close and Baldwin are still represented here; also
Mrs. D. N. Sherburne is still here.
In 1891 the San Ramon branch of the Southern Pacific reached Dan-
ville, at which time new impetus was given the town. John Hartz sur-
veyed and sold town lots in an addition which includes the southwest part
of town. The Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Electric Railway came in 1914,
but this road was abandoned in 1924 as unprofitable and the tracks were
taken up.
The San Ramon Valley Chamber of Commerce was organized with
A. S. Ormsby as its first president; Will Meese, secretary; Dr. Fred
Booth, vice-president; and A. H. Cope, treasurer. The Chamber took
in San Ramon, Danville, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Tassajara and Lafayette.
In December, 1924, the Chamber was reorganized without Lafayette and
Walnut Creek. At this time, 1925, E. C. Weister is president and Mrs.
Jessie Higley, secretary.
Danville Lodge No. 378, I. O. O. F. was instituted on July 26, 1892.
Other fraternal organizations are: Danville Lodge No. 123, Daughters
of Rebekah; Danville Grange No. 85, P. of H., which has about 200 mem-
bers and is a strong organization; the Foresters of America; the U. P.
E. C; the I. D. E. S.; and the Woodmen of the World. The Odd Fel-
lows, in conjunction with the Patrons of Husbandry, erected a social and
fraternal hall in 1912.
In 1923 a district fire company was organized with a fine motor chem-
ical engine. The district covers Alamo, Danville and Tassajara, and the
upkeep is paid by taxation.
The Veterans' Memorial Hall, one of the recent modern buildings,
162 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
was erected by a fund apportioned by the board of supervisors, and cost
about $20,000. It is in honor of the soldiers of the World War.
The San Ramon Valley Bank is the financial bulwark of the town,
and occupies its own building. It was organized in Walnut Creek in 1907,
and the Danville branch was established in 1911. C. W. Close is resident
manager.
The products of the country surrounding the town include walnuts,
pears, and prunes in the valley; and on the sloping hills grain and hay
are raised. These products are shipped over the Southern Pacific and by
motor trucks to Sacramento, San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. A
large business is done in trucking.
A bus line' is operated during the summer season over a scenic boule-
vard to the top of Mount Diablo, which is one of the great attractions for
tourists.
Mount Diablo Country Club
The Mount Diablo Country Club was organized by George W. Mc-
Near and a number of his associates who were golf enthusiasts. Property
was purchased in Contra Costa County in the foothills of Mount Diablo
and extensive grounds were laid out on the 600 acres. Here is one of the
best eighteen-hole golf courses with grass greens and fairways to be found
in the State. Tennis courts and ample provision for other recreational
games are also to be found here. One of the most modern club houses
has been erected and is the scene of frequent and enjoyable banquets.
There is a fine reservoir lake, with bath house and swimming pool; and
black bass abound in this lake. A paved road leads to the club property,
which lies three miles from Danville to the east. Besides being an ideal
recreation center, it is also an ideal home place and some half-hundred fine
homes are now built within the confines of the property. The club has
its own water supply, which is adequate for all purposes, the water being
piped four miles down to the grounds. The club membership is limited
to 400 and is made up of people from the east bay cities. The officers
of the club are: George W. McNear, president; W. S. Dinwiddie, vice-
president; Roy L Pratt, secretary. The board of directors, in addition
to the above named, are: William Dolge, Bernard Ransome, Hon. L. R.
Weinmann and William Cavalier.
ALAMO
The village of Alamo, which means Poplar in Spanish, is a settlement
two miles north of Danville and sixteen miles south of Martinez, on San
Ramon Creek. In the early days this section of the county was settled
by the Spanish families, Francisco Garcia being one of the pioneers living
on the San Ramon Grant near this particular spot. On October 3, 1852,
D. P. Smith settled east of the place. At that time there were but four
houses between this place and Martinez. In 1852 David Glass started a
small trading-post at his place.
Henry Hoffman opened the first store in the village, having bought
David Glass' stock. This firm soon after became known as Wolf & Com-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 163
pany, Mr. Hoffman retaining an interest. George Englemire opened the
second place in 1852, and ran a shoe shop and general store. The post-
office was established in 1853 at the home of John M. Jones, who was
postmaster, assisted by his wife, Mary A. This was the only postoffice
between Martinez and Mission San Jose, the carrier making a round trip
once a week, with a horse and cart. In connection with their store, Wolf
& Company opened a hotel. In due time other shops were opened, a har-
ness shop, meat market and smithy. The thircLbui ldin g was of brick and
was occupied by Wolf & Company, who soon opened a hotel in connection
with the store; Mr. Hoffman, retaining an interest in the store, was man-
ager of the hotel. When Wolf & Company moved to Danville, Mr. Hoff-
man sold his interest in the store to remain as hotel-keeper of Henry's
Hotel. He took a partner named William Maxey in the late fifties.
In 1857 James Foster opened a wagon and carriage shop. He also
made furniture and coffins. The timbers in his shop were shipped from
Maine around the Horn.
In January, 1858, Albert W. Stone arrived in the settlement; and
that same year J. C. Peterson and F. L. Hamburg also came. Lomax &
Smart had a general store, and overhead was the Masonic Hall where
Alamo Lodge No. 122, F. & A. M., which was instituted in 1858, held
its meetings. In 1860 a two-story brick building was built on the west
side of the street by Wolf & Cohen, and the Masons moved their lodge
room to the upper floor. The bricks in this building were made by G. W.
Webster from clay on the Van Gorden place, the kiln being erected on
Rancho El Rio, across the creek. The earthquake of 1868 damaged
this building and it was torn down, and the Masons moved to Danville.
In 1854, a Cumberland Presbyterian church was erected south of town,
and that same year the first school opened in the valley, with Richard
Webster as teacher. For a time school was held in the home of Captain
Wall, and it was known as the Wall School.
In 1859 the Contra Costa Educational Association built the Union
Academy, a boarding and day school, which was opened in June, 1860,
Rev. David McClure being the principal. This building was located be-
tween Alamo and Danville and was a three-story structure. John H.
Braly succeeded McClure, and Robert King followed Braly. The build-
ing burned in 1868 and was never rebuilt.
In 1860 Daniel Selley located in Alamo.
In 1862 tobacco was first raised here by Stout and Peden.
In March, 1861, Rev. T. M. Johnston published the Pacific Cumber-
land Presbyter, a religious paper.
In connection with the activities of Rev. T. M. Johnston, we glean a
few items from a diary kept by him and now in the possession of his
granddaughter, Mrs. C. M. French, of Merced. It seems that Rev. John-
ston came to California on account of ill health, as his diary starts back
164 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
on February 21, 1859, when he writes from some point back in the East
en route by stage to California:
'Albuquerque mail arrived early."
"March 6 — Arrived at Ft. Smith, stopped at St. Charles Hotel."
"March 22 — Passed Ft. Fillmore and crossed the Rio Grande."
"March 27 — Arrived at Ft. Yuma."
"April 1 — Passed Visalia last night."
"April 4 — Arrived at What Cheer House in San Francisco."
"April 6 — Started for Stockton, went to Napa City, took stage for
Benicia, where took boat for Stockton."
"Sunday, January 20, 1861 — Preached at Lafayette."
"Sunday, March 10 — Preached at Alamo."
"May 29, 1861— Married John O'Brien and Mrs. Mary E. Craw-
ford."
"June 8, 1861 — Hail storm today."
"December 26 — Rained excessively all day. Creek higher than I ever
saw it."
"Friday, April 22, 1864 — Preached funeral of James Foster's child
today to a large congregation."
"December 21, 1864 — Married Albert G. Wilks and Jane Toomey
today at house of J. T. Walker."
"January 1, 1867 — Mrs. Isaac Yoakum died about 5 p. m. today."
"February 26, 1871 — Preached funeral sermon of Roxana Simpson
at Sycamore school house."
"Sunday, March 8, 1874 — Received this day by express a package
containing books and apparatus of deputy assessor."
"March 10 — Commenced assessing today."
- "Saturday, April 4 — Difficult to assess foreigners."
Rev. Johnston was a traveling preacher and missionary. He spent
a great deal of his time traveling about from Visalia to Napa, Sacramento
and Stockton, organizing congregations and helping to build up churches.
PACHECO
Located five miles south from Martinez is the village of Pacheco, once
the most likely town in all Contra Costa County, but now a cross-road
village. The first house to be erected in the vicinity was the residence
of G. L. Walrath, which was built in 1853. This place was purchased by
George Loucks in 1856. Lathrop, Fish & Walrath owned a warehouse,
which afterwards became the property of Bray Brothers of San Fran-
cisco. In 1857, soon after locating in Pacheco, Mr. Loucks built a large
warehouse, 150 feeHong, and the next year added 125 feet to it. This
stood about a mile from the townsite, on Walnut Creek. On account of
the stream filling up with silt, in 1862, this warehouse was moved further
down stream. In 1857, W. K. Hendricks bought some land from Mr.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 165
Loucks and built a mill. The first sailing vessels to call at Loucks' wharf
were the C. E. Long and the Ida. F. L. Such had a lime kiln, and the
first vessels to enter the creek came for his products.
In 1860, Dr. J. H. Carothers, with Hale & Fassett, bought land and
laid out a townsite. J. B. Abbott made the survey and Hale & Fassett
erected the first store, which was occupied by John Gambs. Capt. Ludwig
Anderson built his home in 1860. That same year Elijah Hook built
a brick building; J. H. Fray's fireproof building was completed; and a
man named Woodford started the first hotel. Thus the town was started.
In August, 1860, a fire destroyed several buildings; and on August 15,
1867, the Pacheco Flour Mills, owned by W. J. Ireland, were destroyed.
In October, 1881, Wagner & Russi became owners of this plant, by pur-
chase from Mrs. Ireland. On September 5, 1871, another fire ravaged the
town, entailing a loss of more than $30,000, the heaviest loss falling on
Elijah Hook, L. F. Moreno, Bunker & Porter of the Contra Costa Ga-
zette, L. Anderson, J. H. Fray, and the Odd Fellows Hall.
The first church was of the Presbyterian denomination, and was or-
ganized in 1862. The next was the Catholic church, organized in 1867,
and the third was a Congregational church.
On September 12, 1863, Pacheco Lodge No. 117, I. O. O. F., was
instituted. In 1871 the lodge erected its own building, but it was destroyed
by fire in September of that year. On April 26, 1872, their new hall was
dedicated. The lodge was later moved to Concord.
The first school was established in 1859, and D. S. Woodruff was the
teacher.
Capt. Ludwig Anderson started his lumber yard in 1860. P. Stand-
ish established the Pacheco Plow Works in 1859. He sold to H. M. Dal-
ton in 1861, and first exhibited his plow at the Bay District Fair in 1862.
In 1879 the plant was removed to Oakland.
In June, 1868, Lohse & Bacon built a warehouse at Seal Bluff Landing.
On October 21, 1868, the great earthquake did great damage to the
buildings in Pacheco, and throughout Contra Costa County.
On June 19, 1869, Mohawk Tribe No. 20, I. O. R. M., was organized.
On May 29, 1869, the Western Union Telegraph Company complet-
ed their line to Pacheco and established an office in the store of Fassett
& McCauley, appointing Barry Baldwin as their agent.
On December 29, 1870, the Contra Costa Savings & Loan Bank was
organized, with a capital of $50,000.
On May 10, 1871, the following officers were selected for the new
military company of forty members: George J. Bennett, captain; H. N.
Armstrong, first lieutenant; and William Fassett, second lieutenant.
The Pacheco Tobacco Company was incorporated on February 6,
1871, with a capital stock of $10,000, for curing and manufacturing to-
bacco. The directors were W. K. Dell, D. F. Majors, B. Baldwin, S. W.
Johnson and R. H. Cornell.
166 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Contra Costa News was established in Pacheco in 1873 by popu-
lar subscription; Mr. Chadwick was manager. In May, 1877, W. R.
Crauna bought the paper, and in October moved the plant to Martinez.
Pacheco Grange was organized on February 5, 1876 with thirty
charter members.
BRENTWOOD
Probably no section of California has made greater strides in agri-
cultural development in past years than Brentwood. Up to a few years
ago irrigation would have been considered not only impracticable, but
unnecessary, in the country around Brentwood. It took the engineers and
agricultural experts of the Balfour-Guthrie Company, owners of 13,000
acres, to discover the possibilities of the land, if irrigated. They laid
their plans carefully and constructed an irrigation system which is now
the finest in the State.
In 1837 the Los Medanos Rancho was sold to Dr. John Marsh, and
that year marks the coming to Contra Costa County of the first American
citizen. He established his residence in a small adobe, but later built the
now famous Stone House, which was most of the time intact and un-
occupied until the quake of 1868. Dr. Marsh met his death on September
24, 1856, while on his way to Martinez to take a boat to San Francisco.
He was accosted by three Mexicans at Potter's Hill, on Pacheco Road,
and was killed. Thus passed the man who first developed the Brentwood
Irrigated Farms, and from whom the Marsh Grant derived its name. The
development of the property was retarded many years, until the final set-
tlement of the suit of Bergin vs. Sanford, which resulted in the partition
of the grant, a small portion going to Sanford, while the Bergin interests
got 95 per cent of the tract, and this was bought by the Balfour-Guthrie
Company. For many years fine crops of wheat, oats and barley were har-
vested from these lands. Now, with the land under irrigation, English
walnuts and alfalfa are being grown very profitably. It cost the Balfour-
Guthrie Company $500,000 to bring about this change. A concrete ditch
carries water from Indian River, and by means of laterals it is distribut-
ed by meter to all parts of the 13,000 acres.
On the ten-acre experimental farm maintained near Brentwood, the
Balfour-Guthrie Company demonstrated that celery, asparagus, potatoes,
and all sorts of vegetables, fruits and berries thrive and bring good returns
in this section.
Brentwood, the center of this area, has grown apace with the de-
velopment of the surrounding country. Its principal street is Oak Street,
which was paved in 1915. Some of the principal buildings are Hotel
Brentwood, built by the Balfour-Guthrie Company at a cost of $40,000,
the Bank of Brentwood, the Liberty Union High School, and the Brent-
wood-Deer Valley Grammar School. This grammar school, which cost
$40,000, was financed by a bond issue voted at the election in September,
1921 ; and the building was occupied in 1922. The school has four teach-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 167
errand an enrollment of ninety-nine pupils. Other modern buildings are
the Rolando, Jansse & O'Meara, W. W. Morgans, Brentwood Garage,
and Shafer's Funeral Home.
Brentwood was started in 1874. That year Joseph Carey built the
first building, a blacksmith shop. In 1876, E. Bacigalupi erected a building
and opened a saloon. L. Grunauer opened a general merchandise store
in 1880, in the third building erected in town. J. E. W. Carey was the
first justice of the peace and notary. A postoffice was established Novem-
ber 9, 1878, C. R. Estabrook being postmaster. The Methodist Epis-
copal church was built in 1885, and the Christian church in 1889.
H. B. Jewett was the pioneer rancher, and lived on the grant of land
now occupied by the northwest part of town. While the railroad was being
built, Mrs. Jewett boarded some of the men.
The Balfour-Guthrie Company established the first water system on
the east side of the town and put in a septic-tank sewer system on that side.
The water supply is now furnished by the Eastern Contra Costa Irriga-
tion Company.
The early agricultural products of this section were wheat and barley,
and in 1890 Brentwood was the largest shipping point, for the shipment
of these grains, between New Orleans and San Francisco.
The Brentwood Lodge of Masons, No. 345, was instituted in 1901,
with fourteen charter members. William Jereslaw was the first Master;
Aubrey Williamson, Master in 1925. There were 115 members in 1925.
Maspha Chapter No. 198, O. E. S., was instituted in 1901 with twen-
ty-two charter members; Henrietta Stone, first Matron; Mrs. Hazel
Kreim, Matron in 1925. In 1924 the Masons and the Eastern Star
erected a Masonic Temple, costing $20,000, with furnishings.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows organized a lodge in 1892.
Brentwood Grammar School was organized in 1882, and the building
was inclosed in 1888 ; this building stood until 1923. The first high school
was held in two rooms of the old grammar school until the high school
was built. The first building burned and was replaced by the present
structure.
Brentwood Courier was established in 1892. There was only one
issue of the paper, as the plant burned. One bundle of the papers was
saved, and they sold for fifty cents each.
Fred Eachus established the Brentwood News in 1897.
E. W. Netherton started the Brentwood Enterprise, having bought
Eachus' plant.
Sam Hill became owner of the Brentwood News in 1920. The paper
is a weekly, with a circulation of 650.
Brentwood Bank was established in 1913; president, R. G. Dean, who
continued in that office until his death. The Balfour-Guthrie Company,
through R. F. MacLeod, owned 210 shares, and local stockholders the
168 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
rest; the capital stock was $25,000. This bank was sold to the Bank of
Antioch in 1922. Robert Wallace is the only one of the original directors
still in office. The institution is now known as the Brentwood Branch of
the Bank of Antioch.
Among the early settlers of the town and vicinity are: C. J. Preston,
who came in 1867, and is now deceased; and Mrs. Elizabeth (Pearce)
Shafer, who came in 1868 and is still a resident. She crossed the plains
in 1858, lived in Solano County for ten years, and married William Sha-
fer, who came to the Los Medanos Grant and engaged in the stock busi-
ness. R. G. Dean, now deceased, came in 1869; Mrs. Jerusha Dean, his
widow, lives in Martinez. Robert Wallace came in 1869, was elected
justice of the peace in 1900, and still holds that office.
The Southern Pacific serves the community as common carrier, as do
also a regular Stockton-Brentwood auto stage and motor trucks. Half
the hay and milk is hauled, by trucks. What fruit is raised is hauled to
Oakley, where two packing plants care for it, those of the Earl Fruit Com-
pany and the Stewart Fruit Company. When the large acreage now plant-
ed comes into bearing, packing houses and canning facilities will be pro-
vided, land already having been purchased by Hunt Brothers for that
purpose. The present crops made possible by irrigation are alfalfa and
fruit. Six thousand acres are in fruit trees — peaches, apricots, etc. —
from one to three years old. There is still considerable stock raised and
ranged in the hills, some 30,000 acres being devoted to pasture; and there
is also considerable dairying.
John Williams organized the Brentwood Coal Company, backed by
the Sanford family of New York. He secured two sections of land near
Marsh Landing, where he had deep water, erected a wharf, and opened
the coal vein, installing all necessary machinery and equipment, and build-
ing boarding-houses and bunk-houses. The coal, however, was found to
be of inferior quality, and water flowed into the shaft in such quantity
that it could not be handled, and consequently the whole project was aban-
doned. The property was sold for taxes, and was bought in by the Clay
Street Bank of San Francisco; and M. B. Ivory was placed in the position
of manager and superintendent. When the town was started, it was given
the name Brentwood, after the name of the mine, as some claim. Others
say that the town derives its name from Brentwood in Essex, England,
whence originally came the family of Dr. John Marsh, and that the owner
of the Marsh Grant donated the townsite.
BYRON
The name of this thriving town was given to it by the railroad com-
pany. It has a population of about 500 people and is located in the ex-
treme eastern end of Contra Costa County, in the center of a highly de-
veloped, irrigated district, on the main line of the Southern Pacific Rail-
way. It is two and a half miles from the world-famous Byron Hot Springs,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 169
and had its beginning in 1878, when the railroad began operating trains
through this district.
The first building put up was erected by a man named Smith, a cob-
bler, who built a shack, of rough boards where he mended boots and shoes.
Henry Wilkening erected the first house, which was his family home and
was also used, as a hotel. He formerly ran the Red House at Point of
Timber. On November 9, 1878, the postoffice was established and Mr.
Wilkening was appointed postmaster. That same fall Charles Peers
moved a house from the old Iron House to the new townsite and opened
a saloon. Mr. Wilkening erected a building on a lot adjacent to his hotel,
and in it opened the first saloon. This building is the only one of the
pioneer structures still standing, all the others having been destroyed by
the various fires that have ravaged the town. F. M. Holway came at
the same time as Wilkening and entered his employ, and he is still doing
business in the old pioneer building, where he has a soft drink emporium
and a billiard hall. He bought the property in 1885 from the heirs of
Wilkening, who died in 1883. The hotel, burned in one of the first fires
to occur in the village, was rebuilt by Mr. Holway in 1885, and was rented
to M. M. Grover for a term of five years. Again the structure was de-
stroyed, but was not rebuilt. In 1878 Fish & Blum erected a large ware-
house.
Fabian & Levinsky built the first store building in 1879. Peers & Den-
gels had the first meat market in 1882. Frank Phelps came in 1884 and
started the first smithy. In 1883 the Congregational Church was built
and Rev. W. H. Tubbs was installed as pastor. Rev. Tubbs was also con-
sidered an artist with the paint brush. In 1887 Byron Lodge No. 335,
I. O. O. F., was instituted with five charter members, F. Rahnestorf,
Noble Grand; there are now (1925) 195 members. In 1889 Florence
Knight Lodge No. 264, D. of R., was organized. It was first known as
Grace Darling Lodge. In 1903 the Odd Fellows erected their new hall,
a two-story structure. In 1888 V. J. Engle started the first lumber yard
on property sold him by F. M. Holway.
Prior to the activities mentioned above, this section was a vast cat-
tle range, known as Point of Timber on the river, where there was a land-
ing owned jointly by the neighboring ranchers, and as Eden Plain to the
west. Here, where the range land had a wide scope, the hardy settlers did
all in their power to build up a law-abiding community, and accumulate
fortunes for themselves. Alonzo Plumley came in 1851 ; so did Ferdinand
Hoffman, who owned 920 acres of land; and J. S. Netherton was the
third settler in Point of Timber. H. C. Gallagher, J. E. Carey, J. F.
Carey, A. Richardson, W. R. Wilder, C. J. Preston, D. Perkins, D. K.
Berry, M. Berlinger, Thomas McCabe, J. P. McCabe, H. C. McCabe,
George Cople, A. T. Taylor, J. Christensen, R. N. McEntire, W. J.
Cotes, J. B. Henderson, R. G. Dean, M. A. Walton, J. H. Baldwin and
others were among the number who laid the foundation for this thriving
community.
170 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The pioneers were stock-men and later came the raising of grain,
mostly wheat. At one time Byron was the liveliest shipping point between
Stockton and San Francisco.
In 1868 the Methodist Episcopal parsonage was built, and the fol-
lowing year A. E. Hertell took charge of the circuit, which included Eden
Plain. In 1871 it was Point of Timber and Antioch, and in 1872 Som-
ersville and San Joaquin were added to the charge. In 1875 Rev. E.
Jacka went to Point of Timber. In 1897 the Methodists erected their
building. Later the Seventh Day Adventists came into the field, and
lastly, in 1917, the Catholics.
Excelsior Lodge No. 349, I. O. G. T., was organized on March 7,
1869; Point of Timber Lodge, A. O. U. W., was organized on April 12,
1870; and Point of Timber Grange No. 14, Patrons of Husbandry, was
organized on May 21, 1873, as an outgrowth of the Farmers' Protective
League. R. G. Dean was Master. These God-fearing, hardy pioneers
had much to do with the early development of the whole eastern end of
Contra Costa County.
James A. Salts kept a store at Point of Timber. Henry Tichenor
ran the first hotel at the Hot Springs. After him came Henry C. Gal-
lagher, who was the first man to advertise the curative powers of the
water. This was in 1878, and at that early day he brought many sporting
men from the bay cities and elsewhere to his hotel. Here they coursed
dogs for amusement. Caswell & Durwood Wright, in 1870, ran a stage
line from Banta to Antioch through Point of Timber, making the run
twice a week, with a change of horses at the Red House.
The Odd Fellows formed an association and erected a building over
the piles of lumber in Engle's yard for their lodge room. When this
burned they bought the land of Engle & Peers and erected their own
building, under the name of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association.
Byron Parlor No. 170, N. S. G. W., was organized on February 7,
1891. Then came Donner Parlor No. 193, N. D. G. W. ; Mt. Diablo
Camp No. 496, W. O. W. ; and the Portuguese lodges: I. D. E. S., No.
96, organized on November 26, 1911, and U. P. E. C, No. 165, organ-
ized on October 27, 1920.
Soon after the founding of Byron a school was started. Ella McCabe
was the first teacher. The Excelsior district had been organized some
time before, with Miss Ida Hall as teacher.
In 1897 the old school building that had been used as the Grange
Hall, in the Excelsior district, was moved to Byron.
In 1906 Harry Hammond established the Byron Times, which has
done more, through its special editions, to advertise the whole delta sec-
tion, than all other agencies.
In 1915-1916 the Byron-Bethany Irrigation project was started, and
in 1917 water was running in the ditches. With the coming of water in
suitable quantity to irrigate the land, the ranchers began putting in al-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 171
falfa, which has proved a very profitable crop, with five cuttings a year.
Most of this is fed to dairy stock, and the milk and cream are shipped to
Oakland.
In 1924 the Bank of Tracy, Byron Branch, which had well served the
financial convenience of the community, was sold to the American Bank,
Byron Branch; E. C. Hannum, president; Judson Swift, cashier.
During 1924 the Borden Highway was completed. This highway
crosses the delta country to Stockton, traversing the entire length of Contra
Costa County.
CLAYTON
The village of Clayton, located at the base of Mount Diablo, at the
head of Diablo Valley, was named after Joel Clayton and was started
in 1857, when he laid out one street and platted a few lots on either
side. The prospecting for coal was the primary reason of founding a set-
tlement. W. K. Taylor surveyed the site in 1858. The first house erected
on the present site of the town was built in 1857 by Romero Mauvais,
who erected a building and opened a tavern. This latter became the site
of the Clayton Hotel. In 1858 George Chapman erected a hotel ad-
joining, and in 1858 James Curry opened a livery stable. In 1858 Charles
Rhine moved his business from a point two miles distant, where he had
started a store in 1856, into the town. A. Senderman opened a general
merchandise store next to the Chapman hotel building that same year.
In 1857 a religious congregation was organized by a Presbyterian
preacher in the home of Howard Nichols; this organization was later
merged with a Congregational church, organized on February 1, 1863,
by Rev. J. J. Powell. On November 10, 1867, a church was dedicated by
Rev. James W. Brian.
On February 28, 1864, the town was nearly wiped out by a disastrous
fire. On March 9, 1872, Joel Clayton died. In July, 1873, a temperance
meeting was held in Clayton; and on May 6, 1876, three years later,
Unity Lodge No. 11, I. O. G. T., was organized.
Some of the early settlers, of Clayton and vicinity were : Capt. How-
ard Nichols, J. D. Allen, William Taynton, Milton Shepard, D. Fisher,
Adolph Zophy, G. O. Chapman (who had crossed the plains with Fre-
mont in 1846, and who died in 1920), Henry Polley, Isaac Mitchell, C.
Ryan, John Collins, and the Duncans, Donners, Stranchans, Kirkwoods,
Myricks, Claytons and Cowdles. C. E. Wetmore was the first justice
of the peace, and William Morris also filled that position in 1862-1863.
When copper was discovered, Clayton was at its height of prosperity;
but when the mining excitement diminished, the people began leaving and
today there is but one general store, and only a few inhabitants remain
in the once thriving town. The country round about is devoted to general
farming and stock-raising. Members of the Chapman family are the
only pioneers represented in the village, but on various ranches are des-
cendants of several of the early settlers.
172 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
OAKLEY
Oakley is a growing town located on the Santa Fe Railroad in the
heart of one of the most productive farming sections of Contra Costa
County, through which runs the State highway. It is on the border of
the reclaimed lands, upon which hundreds of acres of asparagus are
raised every year; also the town is now surrounded by producing orchards
and vineyards.
The town is located on section 25, township 2 north, range 2 east.
The first settlers were James O'Hara, Andrew Walker, B. F. Porter and
R. C. Marsh. Deeds of right of way were given to the Santa Fe (not
sold) with the understanding that they erect a temporary shelter and
that, when needed, a permanent depot and freight buildings be erected.
On September 9, 1898, the postoffice was established, R. C. Marsh, post-
master, who received the first mail on November 1. The first eight
months the mail was brought from Antioch daily, by cart; then it came
from Brentwood in charge of the United States postal service. Prior to
this it was handled by the drivers A. N. Norcross and Daniel Methven.
The first passenger train stopped on July 1, 1900.
James O'Hara planted the first almond and fruit trees and the first
store was run by J. A. Jesse. J. M. Augusto carried on the first black-
smith shop.
On July 4, 1905, the first Fourth of July celebration was held, with
some 2000 guests present. In 1909 the first addition to the town was
platted by Mr. O'Hara. Later R. C. Marsh added another. The build-
ing in the town kept abreast of the development of the country — stores,
garage, machine shops, hotel, community hall and three packing plants,
a bank, etc.
The first religious services were held under the branches of a tree.
Then the Congregational Mission was established, with Paul Bandy the
first preacher. The Methodists had a church a short distance out in the
country; but it was soon moved into town, and in 1908 a new edifice was
built. Next came the Baptist Church. In due time a school was opened;
and when the occasion demanded, a modern building was erected.
The Ladies' Improvement Club is one of the important adjuncts to
the growing town and has done much for civic betterment, as has also the
Farmers' Club.
The Loganberry was introduced in the Oakley district in 1900 by
Rev. C. S. Scott, who brought the plants from Southern California.
At the packing house of the Miller-Cummings Company of San Fran-
cisco, hundreds of tons of asparagus, tomatoes and grapes are shipped to
Eastern points yearly. Apricots ripen earlier in Oakley than in any other
section, on account of the sandy soil, and these apricots are in great de-
mand in the Eastern States.
The Bank of Oakley, established in 1920, has been the financial guide
in the community and has always fostered all upbuilding of the substantial
sort. J. H. Shaw, the president, is a real banker and upbuilder.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 173
RODEO
The thriving town of Rodeo is situated on San Pablo Bay, where a
fine water front and excellent shipping facilities are to be found. Its name
was derived from the rodeos that were held there by the Spaniards in the
early days of the cattle barons. Patrick Tormey owned the townsite.
The town was established in 1890. A man named Hawley built the first
store and sold general merchandise, and was the postmaster in 1892.
Jerry Mahoney in 1892 bought the first lots put up for sale and erected
the first building, which he conducted as the Rodeo Exchange. A Mr.
Graham bought the second lot and built the first hotel, and J. D. Smith
erected two residences that same year.
In 189.3 the first school was established, which in 1913 had seven
teachers. The town has a Presbyterian church, established in 1911; and
the Catholic church was built in 1918. That same year the First National
Bank was established, T. J. O'Leary being the first president. S. J.
Claeys is the present president. Their new building was erected in 1921.
In 1921 the Bank of Pinole established their Rodeo Branch, with Mrs.
Gertrude Bernard as manager.
The volunteer fire company was organized in 1895 with an ordinary
hose cart; there is now a chemical truck, and there are four companies with
seventy-five members. T. P. Lewis is the fire chief. The town owned its
own water supply. S. J. Claeys put in the water system.
The plants of the Union Oil Company and Western Oil Company are
located in the nearby town of Oleum; and the powder factories of the
Hercules Company, the plant of the C. & H. Sugar Company, and the
Mare Island Navy Yard supply many residents, who commute to the
last-named place. The Standard filling station is located here. The
Rodeo Ferry to Vallejo, which gives a twenty-minute service, has done
much to advance the popularity of Rodeo.
The social and fraternal life of the town finds expression in the activi-
ties of Rodeo Rebekah Lodge No. 342, established on November 13,
1913; Rodeo Lodge, I. O. O. F., established on August 4, 1906; Rodeo
U. A. O. D. No. 177; Rodeo Circle No. 54, U. A. O. D.; I. D. E. S.
No. 69 ;U. P. P. E. C. No. 12; and S. P. R.S.I. No. 71.
The opening of Hotel Rodeo on April 30, 1892, was an auspicious af-
fair. A special train of five cars was run from San Francisco and carried
guests from the entire bay district to inspect the work done by the Rodeo
Packing Company at its immense stock yards and plant. At the banquet
225 people were seated at one time in the dining room.
The estimated population in 1925 is 1000. The living pioneers are
F. Furtado, John Mello, J. D. Smith, Mrs. Olinda Joseph, and Jeremiah
Mahoney.
TORMEY
Tormey was the original station between Oleum and Rodeo. It was
then moved and was known as El Ciervo (The Deer). When the Selby
Smelting Company came, in 1886, the hotel was erected by Mr. Tormey,
174 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
who also built five cottages. The public school was established in 1888.
In 1900 the smelting company bought the townsite and property adjacent.
Mr. Tormey died in May, 1907.
COWELL
The town of Cowell is located four miles from Concord, in the foot-
hills of Mount Diablo, and was established by the Cowell Cement Com-
pany of San Francisco, in connection with their building the great cement
works there, which were opened in February, 1908. This is the greatest
plant of its kind in the world and employs hundreds of men. The rail-
road was built by the company, connecting with the Southern Pacific, the
Santa Fe and the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern. The first resident physi-
cian for the company was Dr. W. E. Bixby.
WALNUT CREEK
This town is one of the oldest, and also one of the most beautiful in
the county. Situated on the Arroyo de las Nueces (Creek of the Walnuts),
whose waters have eaten their way down through the rich alluvium to a
depth varying from fifteen to thirty feet, and almost in the center of the
great San Ramon Valley, its name does not belie its character. This lovely
creek was given its name from the wild hard-shelled walnuts that grow
along its course; and today both in town and all through the surrounding
country, walnut trees abound — now, however, mostly the thin-shelled Eng-
lish walnut, which has been grafted on the hardy native stock. Many
walnut groves are found in the vicinity, and many of the splendid country
roads have walnut trees planted along the margin, affording delightful
shade and presenting beautiful vistas where the giant trees overarch the
roadway.
The central location of the town assures it a future of importance. It
is a station on the San Ramon branch of the Southern Pacific, from which
are made heavy shipments of fruit, grapes, nuts, and other products.
The street improvements in Walnut Creek represent an outlay of
about $60,000. The streets are of concrete and oil macadam, and extend
over the major part of the town. A new fire house costing $3000 has
been built, and in it has been installed a new La France fire engine pumper
with a capacity of 400 gallons per minute. The cost of the engine was
$7000.
A Lions Club was instituted in December, 1925.
LAFAYETTE
Lafayette is a small town situated three miles west of Walnut Creek
and fourteen miles east from Oakland. It is located on the Tunnel Road,
a paved thoroughfare connecting Contra Costa County with the East
Bay Cities. The town had its beginning when the owner of the Rancho
Alcalanes, a Spaniard named Valencia, who owed W. A. Leidesdorff, of
Yerba Buena, considerable money, arranged to sell the property to get
the money owing him. On February 7, 1848, Elam Brown, who had
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 175
bought the rancho, moved his family onto it, and thereafter it was the
family home for many years. After concluding the purchase, Mr. Brown
sold one-tenth of the holding to Nathaniel Jones for $100, both families
settling on the tract about the same time. Brown and Jones erected the
first two frame buildings. Brown moved his location twice before per-
manently settling. His last place was torn down in 1924.
In 1848 Mr. Brown sowed wheat, and when harvested the grain was
hauled to San Jose to be ground into flour. In 1849 he bought a horse
power mill in Benicia and erected it on his place. The families did their
household shopping in San Jose, the nearest settlement. Mr. Jones was
the first to set out trees and shrubs for family use and ornamental pur-
poses.
In 1852 Benjamin Shreve came to the place, and then he and Mr.
Brown gave the place the name of Lafayette.
In 1853 Milo J. Hough built the first hotel, and a cemetery was
platted; also an interdenominational building was built by the people and
church services were held. J. H. Gorham and George W. Hammitt were
also making their homes in the new settlement.
On January 15, 1859, the Contra Costa Agricultural, Horticultural &
Mechanical Society was formed, with L. I. Fish president. At the regular
meeting on May 14, T. A. Brown was elected president; Elam Brown,
treasurer; H. H. Fassett, recording secretary; N. Jones, corresponding
secretary; W. Bradford, D. Small, E. H. Cox, W. T. Hendrick, J.
O'Brien, J. A. Hamilton, D. Goodale, W. J. Caldwell, D. Carrick and
Jose Martinez, vice-presidents. The first fair was held in Pacheco on
October 11, 1859.
There was a library association organized in Lafayette in 1860, but it
never functioned.
On June 6, 1859, near Lafayette, the home of R. S. Linville was
burned and Mrs. Linville and two children lost their lives.
On March 8, 1863, occurred the death of Stephen Jones, father
of Nathaniel Jones.
On October 8, 1864, Brown & Company opened a stage line between
Walnut Creek and San Ramon, connecting with Oakland lines.
When the Tunnel Road and the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Electric
Railway were completed, a new era opened for this suburban district, and
now there are many fine homes erected in the hills and valley sections sur-
rounding Lafayette. An auditorium was built by public subscription and
served for all public gatherings. In 1865 N. Jones started a newspaper,
but it lived only two months. There is a postoffice at Lafayette, and a
Methodist Episcopal church and an Improvement Club; and a new audi-
torium is being erected. Some of the most beautiful scenery in the county
is to be found in the Lafayette section.
SAN RAMON
This little village was originally called Limerick, but the name was
changed when the railroad came. It is surrounded chiefly by a region
176 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
devoted to general farming and cattle ranges, although the growing of
fruits and grapes has made great progress. It is the terminus of the San
Ramon branch of the Southern Pacific and the most southerly town in
the county, and when the road is continued on to Pleasanton, and thence
to San Francisco, greater activity may Be expected. Some splendid places
are to be found in this vicinity.
SAN PABLO
The town of San Pablo, Contra Costa County, was named for the
Rancho San Pablo that had been granted to Don Francisco Castro in
1823. It was his home until his death, in 1831. In 1838 a commodious
adobe house was erected by the Castros on the property. Mrs. Castro
died in 1851. Juan B. Alvarado, at one time governor of California,
married a daughter of Castro and they moved into the adobe in 1849, and
here he died in 1882. He donated to the Catholic Church three acres
of land for church purposes, and in 1854 the first Catholic Church was
dedicated by Archbishop Allemany. In 1864 a new church was erected at
a cost of $300 and was dedicated to Saint Paul. The Catholic Church
plans a very modern building in the near future. The resident priest is
Father Porta, who is beloved by all his parishioners. The Baptists also
built a church later on, and this was replaced by a modern structure in
1925. It is a large and commodious building, and the congregation is a
large one. Weatherby & Poole kept the first store. In 1855 Peck &
Dohrman opened the San Pablo Hotel in an adobe building. Dr. Goodale
was the first physician. John Wilcox and John Nicholl were large land-
owners in the vicinity, as was also Joseph Emeric. John Proviso was one
of the early merchants of the village. W. F. Belding was another of the
pioneer merchants. In 1860 a meeting of the citizens was called to raise
money for the purchase of a steamer to use as a ferry to run to San Fran-
cisco from San Pablo. San Pablo Avenue goes through the town and is
a good paved thoroughfare. There are now a town hall and several
stores and garages in the town, and many modern cottages and bungalow
homes occupied by employees of the various industrial plants in Richmond
and vicinity. On account of the close proximity to Richmond, there is
little to hope for as to the future of the town, but there are a number of
good ranches in the district where dairying is carried on and fruit and
hay are grown by the ranchers.
The oldest landmark now known in San Pablo is the Alvarado Haci-
enda, built in 1838 of adobe bricks. It is about ninety feet long and had
broad porches on two sides, with great overhanging gables and an attic.
It is now a part of the general mass of structure known as the Belding
store, at the west corner of Alvarado and Church Streets. The porchway
being boarded up, it now holds boxed goods, barley and pork barrels.
Little heeds the purchaser who drops into the store for a few potatoes or
to pay a bill, that some seventy or eighty years ago this present store
room was the Mecca each fall, after the grand rodeos, for all the Dons,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 177
Donnas, Senors, Senoritas, vaqueros and peons that gathered around the
homes of Don Ygnacio Martinez, S. J. Tennent, Briones, Pacheco, Mor-
aga, Castro, Galindo and other pioneers of the time.
It was customary in very early times for ships to anchor off shore
from what is now San Pablo and Richmond, there to receive from the
barges the hides, horns and tallow produced in this vicinity and adjacent
interior country. There being no sale for the meat, vast herds were
slaughtered for the products mentioned. The tallow was reduced in great
kettles, poured into forms dug in the soil, and then taken to the
ship's hold.
The fall rodeos or round-ups were followed by the great social event
of the year — the Spanish fandango. In all these festivities San Pablo was
the rallying point for all the grandees, with their families and attendants,
throughout this entire section. For a week these gatherings were devoted
solely to sports, dancing and unlimited hilarity, only to move on — a great
cavalcade of horsemen, horsewomen, wagons, bedding and camp outfits —
to Pinole, there to repeat the performances and then again to move on to
other ranchos.
MORGAN TERRITORY
In 1856 Jeremiah Morgan, familiarly called "Jerry" Morgan, lo-
cated in this section. He came from Ygnacio Valley, where he had settled
in 1853. He had been on a bear-hunting expedition on Mount Diablo
and in its vicinity discovered a tract of land that struck his fancy, and as
a result he settled upon a tract of 2000 acres. It is situated in a pro-
ductive section of the county. After he had located his family in the
new home he called it Morgan Territory, and it is still known by that
name. It took Morgan three days to get into the territory with his
wagons in 1856. Marsh Creek has its source here. In 1857 Alonzo
Plumley acquired a possessory title to half the original tract. A school
was established in 1858 and William Ellis was the first teacher. In
1859 Ransome Woods, Solomon Perkins, John Gibson and C. Leeming
settled in the territory. In 1860 Edward Curry bought out Gibson and
Leeming.
Jerry Morgan was born in the Cherokee Nation, Ala., in 1819, and
came to California across the plains in 1849 from Illinois. He died at
his home on January 23, 1906.
AVON
The Associated Oil Company is responsible for the founding of the
town of Avon. The company erected their refinery here and have spent
many millions of dollars to build up a large plant. They have direct
water transportation, and both the Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific
Railroads also serve the town. The oil company was incorporated in
1901, acquired the property of the National Oil Transportation Com-
pany in 1905, and have direct pipe lines from Coalinga, Kern River and
178 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
McKittrick oil fields to tidewater at Monterey Bay. In 1906 they com-
pleted a line to Port Costa. In 1913 they erected their refinery on 620
acres they had purchased at Avon, as they named the town. Since that
date they have been continually expanding.
HERCULES
Hercules, in Contra Costa County, is an incorporated city of the sixth
class and was built up by the Hercules Powder Company in the locality
of the plant where they manufacture explosives. It is adjacent to Pinole.
Many of the employees of the powder works live in the town, and others
reside in the nearby towns and cities. During the World War the city
took on new life and there were several hundred men working in the man-
ufacture of war materials.
CHAPTER XIII
LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
By Mrs. Alice G. Whitbeck, County Librarian
Previous to the establishment of the Contra Costa County Free Li-
brary in 1913, the record of the efforts of small communities to supply
themselves with books and magazines through clubs or personal subscrip-
tions is all that we have of the early history of the library movement.
These pioneer efforts met with many obstacles, but the earnest and unflag-
ging zeal of a few enthusiastic workers held the clubs and associations
together until the final achievement of a county-wide library system.
The struggle of each community is a story in itself, the recording of
which brings back the names of many early residents now held in memory
and of many more who still hold the same interest in the larger library
that they did in the one of small beginnings.
Martinez Branch Library
The Martinez Library dates back to October 24, 1883, when a little
club was formed with five charter members, the Misses Julia Fish, Jane
Grey Frazer, Marion Taylor, Carrie Cutler, and Louise Corbert, for the
purpose of working for a free reading room. They called themselves the
E. Q. V. Society, but kept steadily before them the idea of a reading-room
whenever they might be able to accomplish it. In 1885 a book social was
given, netting 150 books. Immediately the Martinez Free Reading-Room
and Library Association was organized, officers elected, and the public in-
vited to become members by paying dues of twenty-five cents a month.
This membership grew and great interest was shown. The use of a room
had been given by Dr. John Strentzel in a building owned by him on Main
Street, and the room was prepared for use by the young people of the
town. Generous contributions of time, money, and talent were given
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 179
freely in many entertainments and benefits that were devised for this
purpose. In 1893 a lot on a prominent corner on Main Street was do-
nated by Mrs. John Strentzel and her daughter, Mrs. John Muir. The lot
was of thirty-two feet frontage by ninety-six feet in depth, and was
deeded with the provision that the building placed thereon must be al-
ways devoted to library purposes.
The association now filed articles of incorporation, and a deed was
shortly afterward executed, which contained a provision that a two-story
brick, building covering the entire lot be placed there within two years, or
the property would revert to the Strentzel estate. A canvassing committee
was immediately appointed, and by May reported more than $1700
pledged.
Byron Brown offered free of charge his services as architect and super-
visor of the building, a generous gift, since it left all funds to go to actual
work of construction. Everybody was interested, and the town agreed to
lease the rear portion of the lower floor — a room for town meetings and
offices and a large room for the fire apparatus. The upper floor was to be
leased for a term of years to the I. O. O. F., thus insuring an income with
which to meet interest and reduce the debt that m'ust be incurred to erect
the building. When the bids came in, the lowest, $6371, was found to be
that of C. H. Ludden, who thus became the builder. In the latter part of
February, 1896, the building was completed, furnished, and occupied, with
a debt of $3800 to be paid by the efforts of the association, represented
by a board of seven trustees, elected annually. This debt was reduced in
ten years by entertainments of all kinds to a little over $800. When the
earthquake caused damages to the amount of $1400, again the people, in
their interest for the welfare of the library, collected $900; so the whole
debt then stood at $1300. This was paid off in the next five years. On its
twenty-fifth anniversary the association's fifteen-year note of indebtedness
was burned.
With the establishment of the County Library, it was not possible
to keep up the subscriptions. The town trustees then came to the aid of
the institution and supplied the means of upkeep, while the County Library
supplied the library service. Figures from the County Library report of
1924-25 show that a total of 43,017 books were circulated during the year.
The collection of books varies in number of volumes, as a constant ex-
change is maintained between it and the County Library, located on the
upper floor of the library building.
Antioch Branch Library
The first efforts in Antioch toward providing reading for the public
were made by a library club, each member of which contributed five dollars
as purchase price of two books. The books were exchanged at house-to-
house meetings.
About 1904 Mr. Williams, with the idea of helping the boys of the
town, started a small reading room in a store on Main Street, but later
180 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
built a gymnasium and library-room on the corner of Third and F Streets.
A small fee was charged for the use of the books; and with his mother, he
kept this reading-room open for five or six years.
In 1911 a part of the membership of the Woman's Club started a li-
brary association, each contributing one dollar a year and as many books
as she could spare from her shelves. The books were kept in the club-
house and were distributed each week by one of the members. Later
Miss Carrie Williamson was appointed librarian, and she has had charge
continuously. When the County Library was established in 1913, Antioch
cooperated at once and gave the use of its clubhouse for the County Li-
brary books, which, together with those accumulated, were circulated
freely. Miss Williamson continued in charge.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Mary L. Fulton, Mrs. Keeney, and Mrs.
Frederika J. West, funds were raised to buy a corner lot for the building
which the Carnegie Corporation donated to the county. This building,
costing $2550, was planned by Frances Reid. Though small, the building
has proved adequate to the demands. As in all the county branches, an ex-
change of books constantly keeps the collection alive. The 1924-25
County Library report shows that 16,518 volumes were circulated during
the year. Miss Williamson has served continuously with great satisfac-
tion to the public.
Concord Branch Library
On October 29, 1906, a mass-meeting was called and met in Odd
Fellows Hall for the purpose of organizing a public library and reading-
room. Dr. George McKenzie was elected chairman and Miss G. R.
Crocker secretary, with the additional names on the committee of Joseph
Boyd, W. A. Kirkwood, and Mrs. F. F. Neff. At the next meeting the
following permanent officers were elected: President, W. A. Kirkwood;
vice-president, Mrs. H. H. Elsworthy; secretary, Miss G. R. Crocker;
treasurer, Joseph Boyd; directors, Mr. Pingree, Mr. Gehringer, Mr.
Spencer, Mr. Randall, and Miss Skinner.
The first location was in the Fire Hall; and books received by dona-
tions, with others borrowed from the State Library and Oakland Club,
were circulated. Miss Skinner was the first librarian and Mr. Martin the
first assistant, the latter receiving ten dollars a month. Dues were twenty-
five cents a month. Frequent entertainments were given to provide for
the new books and maintenance.
A strong interest has always been felt by the library association in the
welfare of its reading-room; and when the County Library was formed,
it was among the first to grasp at the idea of enlarging its usefulness and
joined immediately. Mrs. Ballenger, who had been a most interested and
faithful librarian for a number of years, was forced to give up the work
from ill health, and Mrs. H. Elise Williams was appointed. A pleasant
room in the Foskett building was rented by a continuation of this same
library association, and the books and magazines were supplied by the
County Library.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 181
A donation of $2500 from the Carnegie Corporation enabled the
county to erect a small building in 1917, in the town park. Mrs. Williams
was succeeded by Mrs. Ellen Thurber, the present custodian. The circu-
lation of books for the year 1924-25 was 16,143 volumes.
Crockett Branch Library
In 1908 the Crolona Men's Club was formed in Crockett, the member-
ship composed largely of men from the California and Hawaiian Sugar
Refining Company. The company and a number of men interested do-
nated about 600 volumes and provided the clubhouse. In 1910 the Y. M.
C. A. assumed control of the Crolona Club. When the County Library was
established, the collection housed in the Y. M. C. A. rooms became a part
of the County Library. The books were accessioned and a charging sys-
tem installed. After it became apparent that the club house was too small
for its purpose, a new building was started in 1914 and was completely
furnished and equipped by the sugar company. The building that had
been occupied was remodeled for the Crockett Girls' Club and a County
Library collection placed there under the charge of Mrs. Edith Powers.
Because of the use made of the larger men's clubhouse, all the books for
the use of the town residents were placed in the Girls' Club clubhouse.
In 1918 the California and Hawaiian Sugar Company moved and fitted
up the old Pinole Bank for a town library. This building has been entirely
fitted to the needs of the company, and Mrs. Charlotte Standish has been
the custodian continuously. The circulation from this branch for the
year 1924-1925 was 16,143 volumes. In addition to this number of books
circulated from the branch, many books are housed in the library of the
Community Center and are used by the men exclusively.
Walnut Creek Branch Library
At the time of the establishment of the County Library, the members
of the Woman's Club of the town were contemplating a reading-room in
their clubhouse and had gathered a number of books together. They re-
alized the great help that the County Library would be to them and put
off the opening of their reading-room until the County Library could help
in preparing and adding to their collection. For the first year a committee
of ladies kept the library open and distributed the books. Later Mrs.
Hempstead was appointed, and she was succeeded by Mrs. Caroline
Gamble.
The library moved its quarters twice before the new Carnegie building
was ready for occupancy. The lot for the building was donated by the
Burgess Company, a corner on which a very delightful bungalow library
was erected in 1916.
Mrs. Robinson, the present custodian, has been in charge since the
resignation of Mrs. Gamble.
182 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Pittsburg Branch Library
There had been no move to start a library in Pittsburg until a gift from
Mr. Sumner Crosby of several hundred volumes made it apparent that
there must be some place to house them. A room was fitted up in the
town hall and locked book cases provided. Mrs. Theresa Minaker was
appointed custodian and has held the position since the opening.
The library soon outgrew its quarters, and when the new town hall was
built a room was planned on the second floor. This room also was soon
found too small, and bonds were voted to build a building on a site donated
by Mr. Wiggington E. Creed. A building designed by Mr. A. W. Corne-
lius will be ready for occupancy February 1, 1926. The circulation of the
Pittsburg Branch for the year 1924-1925 was 19,503 volumes, a large
number of books to be given out, considering its very crowded quarters.
Richmond Library
The Richmond Library Club was formed on August 16, 1907, with
Mrs. W. W. Felch as chairman of the library committee. The club rented
a small room on the corner of Sixth and Macdonald Avenue, and the
library was kept open by a committee of women, among whom were Mrs.
W. W. Felch, Mrs. E. K. Smallwood, Mrs. C. Smith, Mrs. Clarence
Jenkins, and Mrs. C. B. Evans. Books were donated and entertainments
given to meet the expenses. In 1908 a request was made to the Carnegie
Corporation for a library building, the Woman's Improvement Club
having given five lots in a central location on Nevin Avenue for a site.
A gift of $17,500 was granted upon the usual conditions, and in June,
1909, the first meeting of the trustees was held. Mrs: E. B. Smallwood
was elected president; Harry Adkison, secretary; and as directors, Mrs.
George W. Topping, L. D. Dimm, and J. C. Bedwell. Mrs. Alice G.
Whitbeck, of Berkeley, was appointed the first librarian, May 2, 1910.
The library was dedicated with appropriate exercises on August 17, 1910.
Great interest was shown in its development, generous and adequate
support was given by the city trustees, and after three successful years,
in which the library became a vital part of the community, Mrs. Whit-
beck resigned to take charge of the County Library, and Miss Delia M.
Wilsey, of Pomona, was appointed librarian. Several changes at that
time were made in the library staff. At the time of the resignation of Mrs.
Whitbeck plans were made and partially carried out to install a children's
room in the basement, the three years' growth proving the inadequacy of
the room originally planned as such. This room, very pretty and com-
plete in all its appointments, was finished, but another two years' growth
showed the necessity of using the still larger assembly room for the chil-
dren, and turning their room into a cataloging and work room.
In December, 1917, Miss Wilsey was married to James A McVittie
and Miss Norah McNeill, of Berkeley, was appointed librarian. The
growth and expansion of the library have been continuous. The Point
Richmond library, which was established on July 7, 1908, became a branch
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 183
of the Richmond Public Library on January 1, 1910. It is now known
as the West Side Branch, occupies commodious quarters at Washington
Avenue and Park Place, and has a yearly circulation of more than 20,000
volumes.
The Stege Branch, established in July, 1913, was located on Potrero
Avenue, and for nine years was under the charge of Mrs. Florilla Brown,
a well known and widely loved local resident. Mrs. Brown was eighty
years old when she resigned the position a few months before her death
in 1922. The library is at present located on South Wall Street, where it
is much used by the children of the neighborhood and has a yearly circu-
lation of 10,000 volumes.
The Grant Branch, a small neighborhood branch library located in
the Grant School building, was opened in 1924, the school authorities giv-
ing free use of the room occupied.
On account of the crowded condition at the main library, a special
building tax was levied in 1921, and a $42,000 addition was completed in
March, 1924. By this addition the main library was increased to almost
double its original size; double-deck steel book stacks were installed, and
the boys' and girls' department was very much enlarged.
From the original collection of a few hundred books, the library's
stock now numbers over 48,000 volumes, and for the year 1924-1925
the combined circulation of books, magazines and pictures was 275,116.
From its inception, the Richmond Library has given special attention
to work with children. The large and well-equipped boys' and girls' de-
partment at the main library is in charge of a specially trained children's
librarian, and includes a well-organized picture collection of over 23,000
pictures, and a special school department from which libraries are sent
to all of the classrooms of the nine elementary schools of the city.
Mr. George B. Fredenburg is president of the Board of Library Trus-
tees, the other members being Mrs. W. B. Trull, Mrs. T. T. Cramer, Mrs.
B. X. Tucker, and Mr. Carl R. Alexander.
At the time of the establishment of the County Library, and for three
years thereafter, the Richmond Library was a part of the County Library
system; but in January, 1916, it withdrew, and is now the only library
not affiliated with the County Library.
The County Library System
The accounts of the inception and growth of the branches already
given embrace, as far as is known, the efforts of the different communi-
ties towards establishing a library in their midst. The Contra Costa
County Free Library was established in 1913, and has recently rendered
to the supervisors its twelfth annual report, which shows that 184,081
volumes were circulated from forty-four branches, and 52,935 books sent
to fifty-five schools.
The early history of the County Library is interesting, as it was so
largely pioneer work. The work began with Mrs. Whitbeck as librarian
184 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
and one assistant, Miss Anne Weyand. A room was rented from the
Martinez Library Association, and immediate steps were taken to help
the struggling places noted in the brief histories and to establish other
branches; also, to bring in as- many schools as possible. As a result of
rapid and well-organized work, books were sent to twenty-eight places
the first year. Some of these were the reading-rooms already mentioned;
others were merely deposits in stores, post offices, private homes, and iso-
lated schools.
The growth from year to year was so rapid that three moves were
made in office quarters, until finally the large lodge room on the upper
floor of the Martinez Reading Room Association building was vacated
and fitted up as County Library office and library. This growth has neces-
sitated an increased office force, embracing a school department, a branch
department, a cataloging department, and a records department. At the
present time, nine full-time assistants are employed to process, catalog,
ship and exchange books to ninety-nine different points.
The policy of the County Library has been to have each town supply
its own library room or building in whatever way it may. Many times
these have been started in a very small way, only to find out in a year or
two that they wanted better quarters. This has been especially noted in
the cases of the towns of Brentwood, Byron, Danville, El Cerrito and
Lafayette. Improvements are constantly taking place, and there is a
general effort to have larger and better reading-rooms.
The work with the schools has grown enormously, and has been made
possible by the assistance and cooperation of County Superintendent of
Schools Mr. W. H. Hanlon, and by the very full measure of appreciation
shown by the teachers served. The citizenship classes have come in for
much help in the way of books, pictures and musical records. Besides
furnishing books to the schools, the County Library circulates maps,
globes, charts, pictures, music records, and films. More and more the
teachers are realizing what the County Library means to them. The
county is almost entirely covered by service to branches or schools. What
remains to do is to increase and improve this service.
CHAPTER XIV
LODGES OF THE COUNTY
It has been very difficult to gather material for the compilation of a
history of the various secret societies in Contra Costa County. This has
been due in part to lack of whole-hearted response, on the part of some,
to calls and correspondence intended to elicit the needed information,
though others, both officers and members of organizations, have freely
cooperated in securing the necessary data; and we thank them kindly. It
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 185
has been the purpose of the compiler to give, in this chapter, an account
of the organizing of the local societies, especially as regards the granting
of dispensation and charter, and the names of the charter members and
original officers. It is to be understood that many other local societies
(as also, indeed, most of those mentioned here) will be found listed in
the chapters devoted to the cities in which they are located. Here follows
the record, so far as we have been able to secure the information.
Masonic Lodges
Martinez Lodge No. 41, F. & A. M., was granted a dispensation on
July 26, 1852, continued upon application on August 3, 1853; a charter
was ordered May 3, 1854; and the following were the officers and mem-
bers: Robert N. Woods, M.; J. Mitchell, S. W. ; H. Mills, J. W.; D.
Small, Treas. ; J. S. Days, Sec; J. Tucker, S. D.; E. T. Weld, J. D.; S.
Russell, Tyler; Masons, S. G. Briggs, A. Hooper, J. T. Trippen, J. S.
Walls. In 1859 the lodge erected its own hall by subscription of the
members.
Antioch Lodge No. 175, F. & A. M., was granted dispensation on
June 15, 1865; was constituted on October 12, 1865; and the charter
members were: Francis Williams, Rozwell Hard, J. P. Walton, D. H.
Cleaves, N. Adams, S. Jessup, J. J. McNulty, J. C. O'Brien, J. E. Wright,
R. Charnock, Jackson W. Ong, Thomas Cryan, E. T. Mills. The officers
under dispensation were F. Williams, M.; S. W. Bedford, S. W. ; J. C.
O'Brien, J. W. Upon the charter being granted, these were elected:
F. Williams, W. M.; S. W. Bedford, S. W.; J. C. O'Brien, J. W. ; J. E.
Wright, Treas.; M. Kline, Sec; N. Adams, S. D.; S. Jessup, J. D.; E. T.
Mills, Tyler.
A petition was sent in to form a lodge at Crockett on December 20,
1898 ; dispensation was granted for Carquinez Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M.,
on April 26, 1899; and the first meeting was held on April 29, of that
year. A charter was granted on October 12, 1899, and the lodge was
constituted on October 28, 1899.
Brentwood Lodge No. 345, F. & A. M., was organized in February,
1902; its charter was received on October 15, 1902. The lodge had
thirteen charter members.
A petition was sent from Richmond, signed by sixteen Masons, to
organize a lodge in that city. This resulted in the organization of Mc-
Kinley Lodge No. 347, which received dispensation on April 5, 1902.
The first meeting was held April 12, 1902, with Harry Ells as Master.
On November 8 the lodge was regularly constituted.
Pinole Lodge No. 353, F. & A. M., held its preliminary meeting on
November 11, 1902; its charter was granted on February 17, 1903, and it
had eighteen charter members.
Pittsburg Lodge No. 249, F. & A. M., was organized on January 20,
1912, with twenty-two Master Masons as charter members, most of them
demitting from Antioch Lodge No. 175. The first meeting was held
186 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
under dispensation on February 20, 1912, and on October 10 of that
year a charter was granted. On November 9 the lodge was instituted.
On June 4, 1912, Alpha Lodge No. 431, F. & A. M., was organized
in Richmond, on account of the wide territory covered, by twenty-five
charter members. The first meeting was held under dispensation on May
24, H. A. Stiver, Master. A charter was granted on October 10; and
on November 12, 1912, the lodge was duly instituted.
Mount Diablo Lodge No. 448, F. & A. M., was granted dispensation
on May 21, 1916; the first meeting was held on May 30, and on October
17, 1916, a charter was granted, when twenty-three men signed the roll.
Harbor Lodge No. 502, F. & A. M., was organized on March 3,
1921, C. W. Duncan, Master.
Point Lodge No. 503, F. & A. M., was instituted on March 3, 1921, C.
J. Peterson, Master. The organization of the last-named lodge gives the
city of Richmond four lodges.
Royal Arch Chapters
Antioch Chapter No. 65, R. A, M., was issued a charter on April 29,
1885. On May 13 the chapter was constituted and C. H. Frink was
elected High Priest.
Richmond Chapter No. 42, R. A. M., was granted a charter on De-
cember 21, 1912, Harry Ells being elected High Priest.
Eastern Star Chapters
Ariel Chapter No. 42, O. E. S., was instituted at Antioch on March
30, 1880, with twelve charter members, by Grand Worthy Patron C. L.
Thomas. The members were: Elizabeth Williams, Alice Parkinson, Kate
Forman, Malvina G. Abbott, Alice Rouse, Mrs. T. B. Jacobs, Annie Mc-
Killips, Alyszan R. Jessup, Mary E. Frink, N. W. Smith, C. H. Frink,
G. Rouse and J. P. Abbott.
Occidental Chapter No. 64, O. E. S., was organized on October 15,
1881, with the following charter members at Martinez: Elizabeth Wil-
liams, L. C. Wittenmyer, Francis Williams, Eva Bissell, Clara K. Wit-
tenmyer, Lizzie T. Russell, Emma Moore, Helen C. Carothers, Margaret
E. W. Thompson, Mary Brown, Narcissa H. Woodruff, Caroline J. Hol-
lenbeck, H. M. Hollenbeck, Clara L. Wittenmyer and Leontine Blum.
Miramar Chapter No. 205, O. E. S., was organized in Richmond on
September 5, 1902, Mrs. P. C. Campbell, Worthy Matron.
Crockett Chapter No. 184, O. E. S., was organized on September 7,
1900.
Almona Chapter No. 214, O. E. S., was organized at Walnut Creek
on September 5, 1903.
Pinole Chapter No. 220, O. E. S., was organized at Pinole on Feb-
ruary 23, 1904, with fifteen charter members.
Los Cerritos Chapter No. 234, O. E. S., was organized in Martinez
on July 22, 1905.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 187
Acantha Chapter No. 249, O. E. S., was organized at Richmond on
September 7, 1906, Mrs. F. Schoen, Worthy Matron.
Beacon Chapter No. 383, O. E. S., was organized in Richmond on
September 9, 1921, Mrs. J. Burdon, Worthy Matron.
Point Chapter No. 394, O. E. S., was organized in Richmond on July
6, 1922, Mrs. H. G. Stidham, Worthy Matron.
Odd Fellows Lodges
Pacheco Lodge No. 117, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Concord on
September 12, 1863. The officers installed on July 6, 1864, were: L. B.
Farish, N. G. ; E. Hook, V. G. ; William Gieraw, Rec. Sec; W. A. Smith,
Fin. Sec; G. W. Johnson, Treas. There were fifty-one members reported
on July 31, 1863.
Mount Diablo Lodge No. 128, I. O. O. F., was organized on October
27, 1866, with John H. Williams, N. G.; T. S. Jones, V. G.; A. E. H.
Stover, Sec; William Prosser, Treas.; J. Jones, Rec. Sec; W. R. D.
Reese, Conductor; J. Lightowler, Guard.
San Joaquin Lodge No. 151, I. O. O. F., was instituted with eleven
men, at Antioch, on January 9, 1869. The following officers were in-
stalled: William Garvin, N. G.; M. S. Levy, V. G.; George Thyarks,
Rec. Sec; R. Eddy, Treas. '
Martinez Lodge No. 297, I. O. O. F., was instituted on July 20, 1882,
with the following charter members: Paul Shirley, J. Borland, John Leff-
ler, R. N. Doyle, S. W. Johnson, E. W. Hiller, Barry Baldwin, C. H.
Ludden, M. B. Ivory, James Stewart, S. Blum, and W. S. Tinning. The
first officers were: Paul Shirley, N. G. ; C. H. Ludden, V. G.; W. S. Tin-
ning, Rec Sec; E. W. Hiller, Sec; R. N. Doyle, Treas.; S. Blum, John
Leffler and Barry Baldwin were trustees.
Crockett Lodge No. 329, I. O. O. F., was instituted in Crockett on
February 3, 1887, with the following charter members: John A. Glick,
J. O. Marsh, S. H. Barnhisel, Steve Cowin, Robert Howe, Axel Nord,
W. G. Short and John L. Heald.
Byron Lodge No. 335, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Byron on No-
vember 23, 1887, with the following charter members: U. J. Engle, M.
Grunauer, T. E. Callin, W. J. Casselman and Fred Rahmstorf.
Danville Lodge No. 378, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Danville on
July 26, 1892. The following were officers and charter members: E. A.
Bunce, Treas.; B. W. Stone, Rec. Sec; B. W. Bennett, N. G. ; J. M.
Huckins, V. G.; W. Z. Stone, Edw. Griffith and M. L. Simpson.
Rodeo Lodge No. 196, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Rodeo on May
4, 1906, by Grand Master Theodore Bell; and among the charter mem-
bers were: J. E. Slade, C. D. Ambrosia, J. M. Ownes, T. J. Francis, S.
H. Cunningham, E. B. Catt and C. E. Mancrief. There were thirty char-
ter members all told. The lodge was given No. 196, which had been the
number of Relief Lodge at Stony Point, until Relief Lodge was consoli-
dated with other lodges.
188 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Giant Lodge No. 400, I. O. O. F., was organized at Pinole on October
2, 1907, with these charter members: B. C. Mawes, H. H. W. Randall,
Leander Smith, W. C. Gerrish, S. E. Mackey, E. E. Randall and Leonard
Garroutte. ■ On June 30, 1908, it had twenty-nine members.
Eclipse Lodge, No. 403, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Richmond on
July 20, 1908, by Grand Master John E. Raker, with the following char-
ter members: F. W. Heckman, D. S. Tyler, J. P. Philpott, I. L. Dear-
born, S. C. Swanson, Theodore Iversen, Lester Follett and V. W. Poulsen.
On June 30, 1909, it had thirty-three members.
On the night of February 1, 1902, Twilight Lodge No. 1 19, I. O. O.F.,
the pioneer Odd Fellow Lodge of Richmond, was organized. Delegates
came from Berkeley, Oakland, and various towns in Contra Costa County,
and despite the stormy night there was much enthusiasm at the hall in
Point Richmond. The following were the charter members: John Mur-
ray, J. A. Whiteside, D. DeBarrows, T. A. Tipp, E. J. Summerfield, E.
Nelson, John Swanson and I. V. McCoy. On September 16, 1908, a com-
munication was received by Eclipse Lodge from Twilight Lodge for a
conference regarding consolidation. On January 6, 1909, the conferences,
resulted in consolidation and the name became Eclipse Lodge No. 403.
C. B. Clarenback, N. G.; J. B. Hunt, V. G. ; J. W. Shell, Rec. Sec.
Bay Point Lodge No. 443, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Bay Point on
August 15, 1914, with thirty-three members having the degrees conferred
upon them by members from Pacheco Lodge No. 117, San Joaquin Lodge
No. 329, and Byron Lodge No. 335. The charter members were: F. L.
Lindquist, C. H. Counch, J. Buckholtz, L. Ludgren, C. Johnson, William
Mattson, A. H. Erickson, Carl Hanson, Henry Roman, M. Caragliotti,
J. L. Olsen, D. P. Alden, M. Percival and Charles Brauner.
Odd Fellows' Encampments and Cantons
Social Encampment No. 150, I. O. O. F., was instituted at Norton-
ville on December 18, 1874, with the following charter members: James
Rankin, T. S. Brown, J. H. Smith, Samuel Brown, John Trengrove, G. H.
Scammon and Evan Thomas.
Contra Costa Encampment No. 99, I. O. O. F., was instituted with
twenty-eight members on May 13, 1905. The following were the first
officers: R. G. Erskine, C. P.; Charles Johnson, H. P.; W. A. Leight, S.
W. ; John Westfall, J. W. ; N. B. Tiller, Scribe; George K. Drew, Treas.
Canton Richmond No. 40, Patriarchs Militant, I. O. O. F., was or-
ganized and mustered in by C. H. Kornbeck, Deputy Commander, on
March 21, 1924. The first officers elected were: Frank Rhoads, Com-
mandant; Charles Washburn, Lieutenant; D. W. Poulsen, Ensign; M. G.
Cofer, Clerk; J. A. Shaffer, Accountant. There were twenty-two char-
ter members.
Odd Fellows' Hall Association
In 1914 a movement was started to organize an Odd Fellows Hall
Association in Richmond, and it was brought to fruition on February 16,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 189
1916, when the association was incorporated. The directors were: J. G.
Gerlach, Frank Rhoads, R. E. Todd, T. Edgar, Charles Johnson, L. B.
Hutchins, Robert Dornan, Mae Sutton and Thomas Handley. Several
sites were offered; but it was not until February, 1921, that a site was
selected and purchased. In October, 1925, a fine building was completed,
which was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies on October 24 of that
year.
Rebekah Lodges
Richmond Lodge No. 206, D. of R., was organized April 22, 1907,
with the following members: Mrs. Rose Michell, Mrs. Emma Tyer, Miss
Minnie Tyer, Mrs. Mary E. Donoho, Mrs. Hattie Horstman, Mrs.
Mary A. Tiller, Mrs. Stella Milroy, Mrs. Mae S. Bedwell, Mrs. Ella
Heckman, Bessie Woods, Mrs. Abbie Oakes, Adolph Horstman and Dan-
iel Tyer; and there were six new members initiated at the first meeting.
Zephyr Lodge No. 263, D. of R., was instituted in Richmond on April
5, 1902, in Fraternal Hall, with the following charter members: Sadie
DeBarrows, Daniel DeBarrows, George Galbraith, John Murray, Lottie
Murray, Elva Summerfield, E. J. Summerfield, Linda Whiteside and James
Whiteside. The officers were : Emily Walker, N. G. ; Emma Galbraith, V.
G. ; Laura Farnell, Sec; and Nellie Adams, Treas. At the end of 1903
the lodge had eighty-one members.
Danville Lodge No. 123, D. of R., was instituted September 22,
1894, with the following charter members: Margret Boydston, Lillian
Coats, Lydia Stone, Lucy Stark, Ennetta Botts, B. W. Stone, William
Stark, William Hayden, W. N. Coats and B. W. Bennett. This lodge
was given the number of Banner Lodge No. 123, which had surrendered
its charter in January, 1893.
Mizpah Lodge No. 102, D. of R., was organized at Antioch on June
28, 1886.
Los Medanos Lodge No. 116, D. of R., was instituted at Pittsburg
with the following charter members: Nellie A. and Fred Carter, Jennie
C. and John H. Gallant, Nannie Cottrell, Mae E. Wright, and A. Bet-
terworth. Los Medanos took the number of Fern Leaf Lodge of Forest-
ville, which had surrendered its charter in May, 1895.
Mt. Diablo Lodge No. 228, D. of R., was instituted on October 12,
1897, at Concord, with the following charter members: Jennie D. and F.
L. Loucks, W. E. Clanton, J. W. Haberly, Ency and Joseph Boyd, Jasper
H. Wells, H. A. Rowley, W. C. Railsback, Anna and F. F. Neff, Mary A.
and C. H. Clayton, Lillie and Eva Wells, and Carrie Bibber.
Florence Knight Lodge No. 264, D. of R., was instituted at Brent-
wood on April 12, 1902, with the following charter members: Ida L.
Morgan, Abbie and Ruth LeMoine, M. Alice Collins, and Frank P.
Baker. This lodge was later moved to Byron.
Carmel Lodge No. 150, D. of R., was organized at Crockett on Oc-
tober 1, 1889, with the following charter members: Stephen Cowin, Fred
190 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
C. Larsen, Robert Rowe, Ella Petersen, Wm. Cowin, Susan Edwards,
Henry H. Hita, Rosetta Cowin, John D. Jones, Flora M. Jones, J. E.
Petersen, Alice M. Trask, J. J. Smith, Stella Trask and Frank A. Starr.
Rodeo Lodge No. 342, D. of R., was instituted at Rodeo on Novem-
ber 22, 1913, with the following charter members: Mae Priscilla, Louis
Priscilla, Charles Pomber, Luna B. Clarke, Hannah M. Owens, and Stella
L. Olsen. On June 30, 1914, it had fifteen women and thirteen men
members.
Twin City Lodge No. 321, D. of R., was instituted at Pinole on June
18, 1921, and was given the number of Presidio Lodge, San Francisco,
which had consolidated with other lodges. These were the charter mem-
bers : Cecil and Henry C. Pake, Carrie and Charles Stevens, Goldie E. and
Fred Allison, Ella L. Gerrish, and August E. Person.
Alhambra Lodge No. 292, D. of R., was instituted December 14,
1906, at Martinez, with the following charter members: Pearl J., Emma,
and Charles Ball, Annie E. Rice, Bertha and Joseph Bickel, Sarah J. Jen-
nings, Margaret A. Crilley, Walter S. Evans and A. E. Selmer.
Carquinez Lodge No. 352, D. of R., was organized at Bay Point on
November 21, 1914, with nine members, viz.: Mamie Ritter, Isabel A.
Nay, Christine and Henry Henrickson, Clara Parker, F. L. Linquist, An-
tone Anderson, Carl Hanson, and Charles Brauer.
Knights of Pythias and Pythian Sisters
Black Diamond Lodge No. 29, K. of P., was organized on October
24, 1874, with thirty charter members, Watkins P. Morgans, P. C. ; F.
J. Deeman, C. C; A. A. Paul, V. C; and Robert Prutton, Prelate.
Richmond Lodge No. 13, K. P., was instituted in 1903 with the fol-
lowing charter members entering on the night of institution: Chas. Car-
penter, A. J. Timmons, J. W. Johnson, C. B. Gregory, Chas. V. Adams,
H. L. Sharrer, Geo. Welsh, Richard Paasch, Emil Anderson, H. Silver-
thorn, A. F. Silva, A. S. Lilly, John McCann, Andrew Erskine, A. B.
McVicker, G. W. Lamley, Lyman Naugle, J. Mel. Morrison, J. H.
Partrage, A. W. Keeler, W. F. Belding, Jr., Geo. B. Hinds, Wm. N.
Sutherland, Chas. L. Easton, W. M. Laidlaw, J. C. Bly, Wm. A. Thomas,
Chas. Desmond, O. B. Graves, Fred Walworth, Wm. A. Light, J. S.
Woods, Fred Ormand, Frank Meredith, M. Dicely, L. W. Dicely, Jas.
Verges, W. E. Holmes, Emi! Mino, H. H. Burner, Frank Lucas, S. L.
Hartman, J. Tarro, F. H. Brownell and Chas. Malmstead.
Pythian Castle was the first lodge building put up by any of the
lodges in Richmond. It was erected in 1903 on Fifth Street, just south of
Macdonald Avenue. Pythian Sisters No. 86 also meet in this building.
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks
Richmond Lodge No. 1251, B. P. O. E., was organized on May 2,
1911, with twenty-nine members, and was granted dispensation on August
1. The Elks Hall Association was incorporated on January 26, 1912.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 191
The first meeting of its directors was held February 3, 1912 and on
February 14 two lots were purchased on which to erect a building. These
lots cost $12,000. Excavation began on October 31, 1912, and the
building was completed on January 26, 1914. The cost of the building
was $78,000, and of the furnishings, $22,000. It is one of the modern
business blocks of Richmond.
Pittsburg Lodge No. 1474 was organized at Pittsburg on October
20, 1923, with 107 charter members. The first Exalted Ruler was Dr.
T. B. Blackshaw. An Elks Hall Association was incorporated on March
1, 1924, and a lot was purchased at a cost of $8500; but no building has
been erected to date.
Improved Order of Red Men
Mohawk Tribe No. 20, I. O. R. M., was organized on June 19, 1869,
in Martinez. The order is also represented by Carquinez Tribe No. 98
and Neola Council No. 172, I. O. R. M., both of Crockett.
Native Sons of the Golden West
The first Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West was organ-
ized on July 26, 1884 at Antioch, with twenty-five members. It was giv-
en the name of General Winn Parlor, No. 32. C. F. Montgomery was
named the first President and C. M. Belshaw, Secretary.
On February 7, 1887, a charter was asked for Mount Diablo Parlor
No. 101, at Martinez, and seventeen members signed the roll. T. A.
McMahon was the first President, and F. L. Glass, the first Secretary.
Central Parlor No. 140, at Walnut Creek, was the next Parlor to be
organized, the date being June 19, 1889. E. B. Anderson was President
and J. A. Black, Secretary. There were thirty-nine members to start this
Parlor, but it was dissolved on April 25, 1896.
The Native Sons of Byron and vicinity were next to apply for a
charter; and on February 7, 1891, Byron Parlor No. 170 was organized
with H. W. Johnston, president; W. H. Lewis, secretary; and twenty
enthusiastic charter members.
Sunrise Parlor No. 204, of Pinole, was launched on August 4, 1899,
with thirty-three members. J. W. Wilson was president and J. Wunder-
lich was Secretary. This Parlor was dissolved on April 27, 1907.
Carquinez Parlor No. 205, of Crockett, was the next. It was organ-
ized on August 5, 1899, with forty-four members. W. H. McDonald
was President and H. T. Smith, Secretary.
On January 6, 1903, Richmond Parlor No. 217 was organized with
twenty-one members. C. F. Grant was the first President and J. D. Grant
was the first Secretary.
Concord Parlor No. 205 was organized on November 2, 1908, with
thirty charter members. A. C. Gehringer was President and C. Hook,
Secretary.
192 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Diamond Parlor No. 246 was organized at Pittsburg with twenty-
seven members on February 4, 1909. W. G. H. Croxon was President and
L. H. Schmalholz was Secretary.
San Ramon Valley Parlor No. 249 was organized at Danville on
April 10, 1909, with twenty-three members. C. G. Goold was President
and S. H. Flournoy, Secretary. This Parlor was later dissolved.
Native Daughters of the Golden West
The first Parlor of Native Daughters was organized in Martinez on
December 10, 1887, and was given the name of Ramona Parlor No. 21.
Mrs. Lizzie Russell was the first President.
Richmond Parlor No. 147 was organized on December 2, 1905, with
thirty-two charter members. The officer presiding was Mrs. A. C. Lang,
Past President; Mrs. R. H. Spiersch, President.
Donner Parlor No. 193, N. D. G. W., was organized on November
4, 1911, at Byron. Mrs. A. Alexson was Past President and Mrs. H. T.
Hammond, President.
Carquinez Parlor No. 234 was organized at Crockett in 1926.
Patrons of Husbandry
Alhambra Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized on Sep-
tember 12, 1874, with Dr. John Strentzel, Master; W. Frazer, Secretary;
H. Raap, Overseer; B. R. Holliday, Lecturer; J. McHarry, Chaplain;
J. C. McHarry, Treasurer; E. Barber, Steward; L. Smith, Assistant
Steward; J. Stewart, Gatekeeper; Mrs. A. Boss, Ceres; Mrs. H. Raap,
Pomona; and Miss Louise Strentzel, Flora.
American Legion Posts
The American Legion is represented in Contra Costa County by the
following Posts: Henry A. McNamara Post No. 29, Martinez; Roy
Freirichs Post No. 200, Brentwood; Harding Post No. 161, Antioch;
David Solari Post No. 151, Pittsburg; Crockett Post No. 33, Crockett;
Richmond Post No. 10, Richmond; Walnut Creek Post No. 115, Walnut
Creek; and Mount Diablo Post No. 246, Danville.
CHAPTER XV
BANKS AND BANKING
In the early days of Contra Costa County there were no local banks,
and the banking business was for the most part carried on by and through
the general merchants, who usually had a safe for their own convenience
and, when so requested by their customers, would accept money of their
surplus funds. They were sometimes given the money in a sack or some
other kind of receptacle, with instructions to pay out sums of money
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 193
upon written orders for various amounts as needed. This, however, was
the custom only under unusual cricumstances. It was usual for the cus-
tomer to take a receipt for, what money he turned over to the merchant,
and that money was mixed with the merchant's and he would keep strict
account of disbursements and receipts. It was not an unusual thing for
the merchant to pay a certain rate of interest for the use of the money
entrusted to him.
The first bank in the county was organized at Pacheco by Hale
Brothers, general merchants, who were often asked to make loans on
good mortgage security for their customers. It was on December 29,
1870, that the Contra Costa Savings & Loan Bank of Pacheco was or-
ganized with $50,000 capital. The directors were W. K. Dell, G. M.
Bryant, John Gambs, Barry Baldwin and W. M. Hale. Two years later,
on March 27, the Contra Costa Bank was incorporated to do a general
banking business.
On October 7, 1873, the Bank of Martinez was incorporated, its
board of directors being L. I. Fish, W. W. Cameron, S. Blum, H. M.
Hale, W. M. Hale; L. I. Fish, president; W. M. Hale, cashier. Its cap-
ital stock was $50,000. On May 26, 1875, its capital stock was in-
creased to $100,000. In July, 1890, L. C. Wittenmyer bought L. I.
Fish's interest and became president, holding the office until 1899, when
he sold out. James Rankin was his successor as president, and he was
succeeded by W. S. Tinning in January, 1902. W. A. Hale was the
next president and is still serving in that office. J. E. Rodgers is vice-
president; Frank Jones, cashier; P. D. Butcher, assistant. The directors
are J. E. Rodgers, A. B. Tinning, W. A. Hale, E. W. Merrithew and
T. B. Fernandez. The policy of the bank has always been constructive
and helpful.
The Bank of Antioch was organized on September 12, 1891, with
$100,000 capital stock, $70,000 paid up; S. G. Little, president; R. Hark-
inson, secretary. C. M. Belshaw succeeded Mr. Little as president.
Contra Costa County Bank, in Pittsburg, began business on January
1, 1904, with capital stock of $50,000; D. A. Bender, president. This
bank was taken over in 1924 by the Mercantile Trust Company of San
Francisco as one of their chain of banks.
Bank of Pinole was established on October 25, 1905, by E. M. Down-
er, with a capital stock of $25,000; J. Bermingham, Jr., president; P.
Tormey, vice-president; Lou Hart, secretary; E. M. Downer, cashier.
The board of directors were J. Bermingham, Jr., P. Tormey, E. M.
Downer, L. Kavanagh, W. A. Ray, Mrs. Sara Bermingham and Henry
Boysen. In 1908 a branch was established at Crockett, and in 1910 the
capital stock was doubled. It erected its own building in 1915, and in
1916 the branch bank building was built.
The First National Bank of Contra Costa County was organized in
Martinez on May 16, 1907, and began business on June 7. Its officers
194 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
were E. A. Majors, president; N. E. Gluckman, cashier. Its capital stock
was $25,000, which was doubled on May 2, 1908. Its board of directors
were: E. A. Majors, A. E. Blum, E. J. Randall and W. K. Cole. This
was taken over by the American Bank of California in 1924. Leslie Alt,
cashier.
The San Ramon Valley Bank was organized on June 28, 1907, at
Walnut Creek; John Hackett, president; A. H. Cope, first vice-president;
A. Burton, second vice-president; Joseph Silveira, cashier and manager.
On the same day that this bank was organized the private bank conducted
by J. L. Silveira at Walnut Creek was incorporated with the San Ramon
Valley Bank; John Hackett, president; Ralph Harrison, F. V. Wood, A.
P. Borges, W. K. Cole, directors. The Danville Branch of the San
Ramon Valley Bank was established in May, 1911, C. W. Close, manager.
On October 21, 1912, the San Ramon Valley Bank opened a branch at
Concord; Guy E. Green, cashier; directors, Eli Hutchinson and M. Frank
Russi.
The Mechanics Bank of Richmond, formerly the Iversen Banking
Company, was organized in 1905 by Josias Iversen. It was reorganized
August 15, 1907, under its present title with a capital stock of $25,000,
which was doubled on October 12, 1912; and this was again doubled on
July 27, 1916. The original stockholders were: L. I. Cowgill, Charles
Nelson J. Iversen, H. C. Morris, S. C. Denson, L. N. McDonald, and F.
W. Judson. L. I. Cowgill was president and W. L. Ballenger, cashier.
The bank building was built in 1906 by B. H. Griffins at Eighth Street and
Macdonald Avenue.
The First National Bank of Richmond was organized on May 24,
1910, with a capital stock of $100,000. C. E. Worden, of San Francisco,
was the first president; C. J. Crary, cashier.
On July 1, 1911, the Richmond Savings Bank was organized by the
officers and directors of the First National Bank.
The First National Bank of Concord was organized on March 20,
1911, with a capital stock of $25,000; F. W. Foskett, president; H. H.
Elsworthy, vice-president; and W. L. Brown, cashier. The first directors
were: P. Roche, J. Sutton, E. H. Shibley, A. C. Gehringer, C. L.
Devereaux, J. M. Lovazzola, J. V. Enloe and William Ford. In 1912,
L. A. Stevenson became cashier, and on January 1, 1917, the capital was
doubled.
The Bank of Byron was organized on May 11, 1911, as a branch of
the Bank of Tracy. There is also a branch of the American Bank at Byron.
The First National Bank of Walnut Creek was organized in Septem-
ber, 1912, with capital stock of $25,000. Its officers were A. H. Cope,
president; J. H. Stow, vice-president; H. G. Flint, cashier; Elmer Cam-
eron, assistant. The directors were : A. H. Cope, J. H. Stow, H. G. Flint,
P. Thompson and R. N. Burgess. The bank first opened its doors in
the Brooks realty offices on October 28, 1912.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ' 195
The Bank of Brentwood was issued articles of incorporation on April
4, 1913, and began business on July 15, with a capital stock of $50,000,
$25,000 paid up. R. G. Dean was president; Robert Wallace, Jr., vice-
president; and Lee Durham, cashier. The directors were: R. G. Dean,
Alex Burness, Robert Wallace, Jr., R. F. MacLeod and Frank H. Lud-
inghouse. This is a Balfour-Guthrie concern. The first day it was opened
$22,138 was deposited.
The First National Bank of Antioch was organized on January 3,
1911, capital stock $25,000. Its officers were: J. L. Harding, president;
J. A. West, vice-president and manager; J. A. West, cashier. The di-
rectors were J. L. Harding, J. A. West, E. C. Werrell, J. Arata, W. C.
Williamson, J. G. Prewett, and M. Baeta. At the same time the Antioch
Savings Bank was opened with the same directors and officers, and with
an authorized capital of $50,000, of which $25,000 was paid up.
The National Bank of Martinez was organized in April, 1924, and
opened in May, 1924. Fifty-two of the fifty-four stockholders live in
Martinez. The bank moved into its new home, Estudillo and Main
Streets, in 1925. It is capitalized for $50,000, and has resources of
$200,000. R. B. Borland, president; P. Ferrarini, vice-president; A. J.
Heald, cashier.
The Bank of Oakley was organized on August 23, 1920, with capital
stock of $25,000. The first officers were: O. M. Champlin, president;
J. H. Shaw, vice-president; F. C. Anderson, secretary; and P. A. Ander-
son, cashier and treasurer.
The Bank of Richmond was organized on April 25, 1902; William
Minzer, president; W. F. Belding, vice-president, and W. Stairley, cash-
ier. This bank is now a branch of the Mercantile Trust Company of
California, having been taken over in 1924.
The First National Bank of Crockett was issued a charter on March
19, 1919, and opened for business on June 1. Its capital stock was $25,-
000. In 1922 this was increased to $50,000. The bank had a surplus of
$10,000 in 1926; deposits, $588,062.23. The original directors were:
P. Murphy, C. P. Thomas, C. Gemignani, B. H. Zuppan, G. W. Likens,
M. D., G. M. O'Malley, M. D., F. W. Hutchinson, A. Berger, P. Lucey,
T. J. O'Leary, and A. Aljets. T. J. O'Leary was president; G. W. Likens,
vice-president; and J. B. Leadbetter, cashier. In 1926 F. W. Hutchinson
was president; A. Aljets, vice-president; and Mrs. M. D. Parker, secretary
and cashier.
196 ' CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
CHAPTER XVI
IRRIGATION
The following editorials from the local press afford a first-hand ac-
count of the growth of sentiment in favor of irrigation, and the increas-
ing demand for an equitable distribution of the available water resources
to the irrigable lands of the county.
Editorial, January 1, 1876. — "That any irrigation measure can be
adopted by any legislature which will be wholly satisfactory to all who
are demanding action in the matter, is not to be supposed. It should not
fail, however, to adopt some measure that will prohibit the acquisition of
water rights by private corporations or persons, and will condemn such of
these rights as have been acquired, wherever and whenever the larger
public interests are to be subserved by such condemnation. Provision
should also be made for determining the available water supplies for ir-
rigation and domestic or manufacturing requirements, and the institution
of means that may ultimately secure their economical and equal distribution
for such purposes. There is urgent need in many sections of some im-
mediate available means of irrigation, and if the legislature can provide
for these wants without putting obstacles in the way of such a general
plan as it may ultimately be desirable to adopt, it should certainly do so.
But it is clear enough that as yet we have not enough data for the ad-
option of such a general system as will answer the future needs.
"It may be a question, too, whether with our sparse population and
limited markets for our staple products, we could at present command
the capital or fair terms that would be required for carrying out a
satisfactory system for irrigation works. And if such works are undertaken
upon means to be raised by bond issue at large discount, there would be
much probability that bondholders might ultimately come to own the works
and the land instead of their remaining the property of the farmers of
the State."
Editorial: An Irrigation Policy Demanded by the Farmers, May,
1879. — "The time has come when the State will be called upon to adopt
some policy with reference to the utilization of its surplus waters where
practicable, for irrigation of soil. Its first care should be to prevent the
water being seized and made private property of speculating monopolists,
and to extinguish such claims as have unjustly been asserted to them. It
will be its duty to see how they can be fairly and economically distributed
where they are needed and furnished to consumers at a rate not op-
pressive. . . .
"It would seem to be the duty of the State to institute a commission
or board of engineers to determine sources and the amount of supply
of water for irrigation, and also the best plan of distribution where re-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 197
quired. The State might, authorized by special amendment to the con-
stitution, construct main conduits and enable, by bond guarantee, the
landowners of such districts as might be organized to construct their own
work. The general advantages would justify a tax on all property
in the State for payment of interest and redemption of bonds for portion
of work done by the State on this plan, with water rents and special
district taxes levied and collected for the interest and redemption of
ranchers' bonds. Any system that will meet the requirements will meet
with more or less objections, and even if it prove perfect in every detail,
there would be objections made by those who cannot monopolize its
benefits."
East Contra Costa Irrigation Company
East Contra Costa Irrigation Company is a mutual company, and its
development work was the first irrigation project in the county. x\ll of
the stock has since been taken over by the Knightsen Irrigation District,
the Lone Tree Irrigation District and the Brentwood Irrigation District,
one share of stock being issued for each acre of land represented in the
various districts. The three districts mentioned were each organized
under the State law known as the Wright Irrigation Act.
The rights to water of the East Contra Costa Irrigation Company
are based on appropriation and use (not riparian), by which means it
obtained legal rights to as much water as can be supplied by its plant.
The waters for irrigation in this district are diverted from the head
of a dredged canal forty feet wide, seven feet deep, and one mile long,
starting at Indian Slough near Point of Timber Landing, a natural chan-
nel extending inland from Old River, one of the main delta channels of
the San Joaquin River. The delta channels of the Sacramento and San
Joaquin are all inter-connected, so that the water supplied for irrigation
comes from the combined flow of both rivers.
The system consists of a series of seven pumping plants lifting water
from the river level in successive stages to a maximum of 144 feet. It
is very generously designed and of permanent construction, and is capable
of watering 25,000 to 30,000 acres. From the main canal, which runs
east and west, main laterals extend north and south, dividing the terri-
tory into north-and-south zones. The slope of the country is west and east.
The seven pumping plants lie along the main canal, one above the
other. The canal is divided into seven steps, each plant lifting the wa-
ter through one step. The intake station lifts all the water required for
the entire system and discharges it into the first step; the balance flows
to No. 2, which lifts it into the second step, where the water is diverted
to irrigate that level; and so on through the seven steps or zones.
The main canal is concrete-lined through its entire length. The pump
plants are of the highest grade of electrically driven power equipment,
all of the most permanent and enduring character, and had been con-
198 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
structed prior to the present era of high cost of labor and material. The
system could not now be duplicated for less than two or three times its
original cost.
The company was organized in 1913. Construction was begun that
same year, and the pump plants were carried to completion; the main
canal and main laterals were constructed during 1913, 1914 and 1915.
Since then the sub-laterals have been under construction as necessary to
meet the demands of the system. Also some additions have been made
to the main canals and the plants.
In his report to the Brentwood Irrigation District, Engineer Woolley,
who was also engineer for the Knightsen and Lone Tree Districts and
formerly assistant engineer for East Contra Costa Irrigation Company,
states:
"Much anxiety has been manifested in times past with reference to the
encroachment of salt water in the Delta Channels and possibility of the
condition reaching that where the water would be unsuited for irrigation
use. Late in 1919 tests for salinity were begun by the East Contra Costa
Irrigation Company on water from the intake tunnel; there was also in-
stalled an automatic recording gauge for registering continuously the level
of the water at the same point. These salinity tests have been carried
forward continuously. The maximum degree of salinity thus far recorded
was 33.4 parts per 100,000, this being much below even the danger point,
and occurring for short periods as water requirements were at a minimum.
"A continuous record of the water level at the mouth of intake tunnel
shows that at no time was there a depth of water less than 3.3 feet over
the sill of the intake tunnel; also that this condition prevailed only for
very limited periods and at such times as the demand for water was low.
"The irrigation season of longest duration for this system was that
of 1917, when during 285 days 13,143 acre-feet were pumped to irrigate
3733 acres, at the rate of 3.5 acre-feet per acre. With a water right of
200 cubic feet per section and 285 days' irrigation season, the total volume
of water available would be 1 14,000 acre-feet, or on a basis of 2000 acres
an average gross duty of 5.7 acre-feet per acre, an amount far in excess
of actual requirements. It may, therefore, be conceded with certainty:
"(1) That the water is of suitable quality at all times.
"(2) That there will always be sufficient water at the intake to supply
the needs of the system.
"(3) That the water right is ample as to volume for the supply of the
total acres to be included under this project."
Knightsen Irrigation District
During 1912-1913, a period of sub-normal rainfall, the East Con-
tra Costa Irrigation Company, a mutual service corporation, was formed
to irrigate certain lands which embrace what is now the northern portion
of the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, the East Contra Costa Irri-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 199
gation Company's holdings, and the main portion of the Lone Tree and
Knightsen Districts.
The pioneering and financing were done by Balfour-Guthrie Irrigation
Company, which firm had bought the Marsh grant of 13,000 acres. It
was evident that, if the water was to be delivered to many holders of
tracts who were desirous of taking stock in the Contra Costa Company,
some means of securing rights of way would be necessary, a mutual serv-
ice company not having the right of eminent domain then. The Wright
Irrigation Act provided not only the necessary right of eminent domain
and an excellent method of financing, but the protection of the Bond Com-
mission, and this was the plan advanced by the local branch of the Contra
Costa Farm Bureau, which had carried on an educational campaign for
years.
The petition for the organization of the Knightsen Irrigation District
was presented to the supervisors on November 17, 1919; it received sev-
enty signatures out of 115 on the assessment roll of the district at that
time. The original signers represented 70 per cent of the value of the
lands included in the proposed district. The election on the formation
of the district and for the officers was held January 19, 1920. The vote
on the formation of the district was 94 for to 23 against. Directors:
Division No. 1, Joseph Minto; No. 2, E. B. Sellers; No. 3, H. W. Hei-
dorn; No. 4, Frank Estes; No. 5, Byron Grigsby; assessor, I. M. Bailey;
collector, A. H. Shafer; treasurer, A. E. Bonnicksen.
Due consideration of the construction of an independent plant occu-
pied the directors and officers during the winter of 1920. After consid-
ering the preliminary report of W. F. Woolley, chief engineer, and A. C.
Wilson, consulting engineer, of San Francisco, it was the unanimous opin-
ion of the board that the purchase of stock in the East Contra Costa Ir-
rigation Company not only prevented a great economic waste in building
two plants designed to serve practically the same territory, but would be
less expensive in first cost to the district, providing earlier delivery of wa-
ter and economy in operation, and a water-right of great value. A con-
tract for 10,000 shares of stock was made after the legality of the step
had been considered by E. A. Bridgeford, attorney for the district, and the
purchase was made.
The feasibility of irrigating the lands included in the Knightsen Dis-
trict had been demonstrated in the irrigation of adjacent lands. The
splendid remuneration received from such irrigation is a matter of com-
mon knowledge in Eastern Contra Costa County; and with frequent re-
currence of dry years the absolute necessity for irrigation, if the section
was to develop, was conceded by all interested.
There being little data on rainfall in the Knightsen section, conclu-
sions were arrived at by Woolley, in making his report to the board of
directors, from Antioch records on the one side and Tracy records on the
other. The records showed that the mean seasonal rainfall in 1879 was
10.37 inches at Tracy, while at Antioch it was 12.97 inches. "It is
200 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
usually conceded that the rainfall at Knightsen and vicinity is less than at
the other two points, due to the sheltering effect of Mount Diablo, which
is due west of the district."
The Knightsen District is unusually well supplied with transportation
facilities. The maximum distance to track within the irrigated district
is less than two miles. The Southern Pacific passes on the west; the
Santa Fe, on the east. Brentwood is on the Southern Pacific; and Knight-
sen, on the Santa Fe. A concrete highway running the entire length of
the district is the main and direct highway connecting San Francisco and
the Bay cities with the valley. The bulky crops of the district are hauled
by river boats, the delta channels being deep enough for boats. This dis-
trict is the closest of eastern Contra Costa districts by rail, highway and
water to the markets of the Bay cities. The Pacific Gas & Electric Com-
pany and the Great Western Power Company serve electricity for lights
and power. Rural delivery serves the greater part of the district, and many
telephones give the conveniences of urban life.
The principal slope of the district is towards the east; and there is
a slight fall to the north, the direction of the principal drainage canal,
Marsh Creek, which follows the entire length of the district on the
western boundary, cutting off the flood waters from the Diablo hills and
carying off such drainage water as is led into it by users of water in
the district. On the east side the sloughs of the San Joaquin care for
drainage of excess irrigation.
The soil of the district is Yolo clay-loam, with a capping of fine
sand in large areas. In places, the sand knolls project above the average
levels; and most of these are planted to trees, almonds principally.
The Knightsen and Oakley sections are the best almond districts in
California, Oakley being the center of packing. At the time of the or-
ganization, 115 were on the roll. The average size of the ranches was
eighty-five acres. The assessed value, $856,611.50. Almonds, grapes,
and alfalfa are the products of the district; and dairying is also carried on.
Lone Tree Irrigation District
The Lone Tree Irrigation District, organized under the State law
know as the Wright Irrigation Act, embraced 2167 acres lying along the
line of the Southern Pacific, northwest of Brentwood. In 1918 certain
of the lands now included within the district endeavored to secure water
from the East Contra Costa Irrigation Company and landowners. Some
600 acres were signed to take stock in this company contingent upon
securing the necessary rights of way. These could not be secured by
negotiation and the plan was abandoned.
In 1919, when the Knightsen Irrigation District was under way, there
was some discussion of including these lands; but when the district
boundaries had been finally settled upon, they were left out. In April,
1920, the landowners held a meeting to formulate some plan to secure ir-
rigation, and it was finally decided to organize a district, such pro-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 201
cedure permitting the securing of rights of way by condemnation if
necessary, and offering every material advantage of financing by means
of bond issue. A petition was circulated, and was presented to the
supervisors on May 3, 1920, and approved by them the same day. On
July 14, 1920, the State engineer advised the supervisors that the plan
was feasible and recommended that they grant permission to form the
district. This the supervisors did on August 2, 1920, calling an election
for September 10th. The vote was unanimously in favor, and the district
was organized on September 24th, the directors and officers taking office
at their first regular meeting that day.
Assistant State Engineer S. C. Whipple, after a survey of the district,
says in a report made to W. F. McClure, on which he based his recom-
mendation to form the district:
"The general slope of the land is toward east and northeast, elevations
ranging from ISO feet in the southwest corner to about 50 feet at the
eastern limit. The soils are highly productive and free from alkali and
hardpan. According to reconnoissance survey of the Bureau of Soils,
four types are represented; these in order from the east are: Oakley sand,
Yolo clay-loam, Yolo adobe, and Diablo abode.
"The topography affords good natural drainage. Ground water re-
ported from forty to eighty feet below the surface. There is little danger of
its rise, inasmuch as irrigation water will be supplied by pumping against
a considerable head, with consequent economy in use."
The entire acreage is gradually being set to orchard. At the time of
the formation of the district, 612 acres were in trees, the balance being
grain land. Since that time much of the grain land has been set to trees.
Brentwood Irrigation District
The newest of the East Contra Costa irrigation projects was or-
ganized under the Wright Act for the purpose of taking over the stock
of the East Contra Costa Irrigation Company that had not been dis-
posed of to the Knightsen and Lone Tree Districts. Of the 20,000
shares, Knightsen got 10,001, Lone Tree 2095, and Brentwood 7904,
each acre of land in the three districts representing one share of stock.
The East Contra Costa Irrigation Company had been operating
plants and conducting the business of water distribution to Knightsen and
Lone Tree and to the individual owners in what is now Brentwood Dis-
trict. It is the intention of the three districts — stock, water and property
rights of the East Contra Costa Irrigation Company having all been se-
cured by due process for that purpose — to consolidate and dispose of the
mutual company, with the following advantages :
1. Elimination of three boards of directors and officers.
2. More direct, economic and efficient apportionment of water dis-
tribution.
3. Elimination of possible overlapping among the employes and
conflict between districts.
202 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
4. All rights, privileges and advantages enjoyed by an irrigation dis-
trict over a mutual water company.
5. Better money rates for land owners and more readily available
capital for further development.
The Brentwood district embraces 1904 acres of land surrounding
Brentwood and east of Mount Diablo. The main line of the Southern
Pacific traverses the tract. The soils are uniform in the district and are
classified as Yolo clay and Yolo adobe, both types being suitable for
irrigation.
In 1922 the crops planted in the district were: Trees, 1600 acres;
grain, 3000 acres; nurseries, 55 acres; grapes, 200 acres; but these figures
have been materially changed, trees and alfalfa gradually supplanting
all grain acreage. The varieties of trees are prunes, apricots, walnuts,
almonds, peaches, figs, and cherries.
The seasonal rainfall in the district is practically the same as in Knight-
sen. No accurate record had ever been kept. At Tracy, twenty miles
southeast, it was 10.37 inches in 1879; at Antioch, 15 miles northwest,
12.97 inches.
The lands of the Brentwood district had been served for several
years by the East Contra Costa Irrigation Company. The sufficiency and
value already established, the change from a mutual company met no
opposition in forming the district. On July 11, 1922, a meeting of the
landowners was held to form an organization. Petitions were circulated
and signatures representing 6046 acres were secured, the balance within
the boundaries belonging to non-resident owners and not represented.
On December 24, 1922, the supervisors approved; and Mr. Eaton, rep-
resenting the State engineer, reported favorably. On January 17, 1923,
the State engineer reported favorably to the supervisors. An election was
held on March 20, 1923, the result of which was 106 for, none against.
The following officers and directors were elected: Robert Wallace, Jr.,
president; J. W. Cooper, secretary; J. M. Trembly, assessor, tax col-
lector and treasurer; W. F. Woolley, engineer; A. D. MacKenzie, Wal-
ter Moffatt, William Dainty and Byron D. Swift.
The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District
The development of irrigation in California on a permanent basis be-
gan about 1887. It is based upon the Wright Act, which provided muni-
cipal forms of organization and construction in farming communities, in-
cluding right of eminent domain and the right to issue bonds and levy
taxes for construction purposes. Bonding provisions of a district are
safeguarded by the establishment of a State Irrigation Commission, com-
posed of the attorney general, State engineer and superintendent of banks.
They investigate and make report on water supply, feasibility of the sys-
tem, soil conditions and value of lands embraced in the proposed district.
The maximum amount of property indebtedness will not exceed 60% of
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 203
the aggregate value of the lands and complete water system. State su-
pervision is also provided for.
The Byron-Bethany project is the result of the efforts put forth by the
late Volney Taylor of the Byron district. The great increase in land
values and production in other districts where irrigation had been intro-
duced led Mr. Taylor, Charles Cople and others to interest their friends,
and meetings were held to consider the formation of a large irrigation
enterprise south of Tracy and Byron. It was proposed to divert water
Irom the San Joaquin River at Tuolumne City and at a slough near the
intersection of the San Joaquin, Alameda and Contra Costa County lines.
Differences of opinion developed at these meetings which resulted in the
withdrawal of the lands of the present Byron-Bethany Irrigation District
from the larger enterprise and the organization of a portion of these lands
to be served by a cooperative irrigation company.
By 1914 surveys, plans and estimates of costs of works were made
which amounted to between $9 and $10 per acre, exclusive of rights of
way; and the Byron-Bethany Irrigation Company was duly organized and
construction work was begun, pumps installed, and ditches sufficiently com-
pleted to be in operation for the 1917 irrigation season. Water rights
and rights of way had not been settled prior to this work, and the com-
pany was brought into legal difficulties for the reason that a private or
cooperative company could not exercise the right of eminent domain. To
meet this situation the company secured from the State Railroad Com-
mission a certificate as a public utility; then they brought suits of con-
demnation to establish their water rights and secure rights of way.
By 1917 the cost of work, partly because of war conditions, had ex-
ceeded their original estimates and had reached the sum of $25 per acre
for the 8000 acres then under service. In 1918-1919 it became necessary
to organize a district under the Wright Act. The petition was filed with
the board of supervisors on September 15, 1919, with 122 signers out of
the 187 on the assessment roll of the district. The vote was 173 for, 14
against. The original signatures represented $130,000 in excess of a
majority of the value of the lands. It was the announced policy of the
district to acquire, at a fair value, the property of the Byron-Bethany Irri-
gation Company, and then to reconstruct and extend the plant to cover all
the lands within the district with sufficient water for general irrigated,
diversified farming, the district to build laterals to each, or for large
ownerships, to each quarter-section.
The original officers and directors of the company were : District No.
1, J. D. Rosa; No. 2, R. R. Houston; No. 3, M. Grunauer; No. 4, A.
Peterson; No. 5, W. Saxouer, all directors. The officers: R. R. Houston,
president; M. G. Preston, assessor, tax collector and treasurer; L. L.
Dennett, attorney; A. F. Donaldson, secretary; B. H. Grover, manager;
F. H. Tibbetts, engineer. The present officers and board of directors are:
W. J. Livingston, president; Robert Armstrong, assessor, tax collector
204 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
and treasurer; G. A. Howard, secretary; V. L. Wooley, manager; L. L.
Dennett, attorney. Directors; W. J. Estes, W. J. Livingston, M. J.
Pimentel, M. C. Monroe and William Saxouer.
The Byron-Bethany Irrigation District comprises about 17,600 acres
lying about twenty miles west from Stockton. The land covers portions
of Township 1 north; Townships 1 and 2 south, Range 3 east; portions
of Townships 1 and 2 south, Range 4 east, Mount Diablo Base and Meri-
dian, east of and behind Mount Diablo. The junction point of San Joa-
quin, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties is within the district boundaries,
about 58% of the district being in Contra Costa County, 25% in Alameda
County, and 17% in San Joaquin County. The West Side Irrigation Dis-
trict joins it on the south and the Balfour-Guthrie Irrigation Project on
the north. Included in this is the town of Byron. The total assessed
valuation for 1926 is over $1,500,000, exclusive of improvements. The
improvements, which include alfalfa and orchards, are about $1,000,000.
As this is a history of Contra Costa County, one-third of the above
amounts can be deducted, two-thirds of the district being in Contra Costa
County. Byron town property would be about $50,000. The total cost
per acre amounts to approximately $50 per acre.
The original bond issue was $550,000, of which $3000 were retired
in 1924; $4000 in 1925; $5000 in 1926. An additional bond issue of
$100,000 was issued September 1, 1923, to complete the work as outlined
by the engineer's report made in 1919 for additional concrete ditch lining
and concrete pipelines, and an additional electric pump at Station No. 4
with a 40-h.p. motor and a 10^ second-feet capacity. This bonded in-
debtedness is carried by about 13,000 acres out of the original 17,600, the
balance of the land being either too poor or too high to irrigate, and
assessed at a very low figure.
The sources of supply are the Delta branches of the San Joaquin
River; the main pumping plant is on a dredged channel 5120 feet long,
connecting with the upper end of Italian Slough, which is a navigable
waterway about two miles in length, and connecting with Old River near
the southern end of Victoria Island. Old River connects with the main
San Joaquin River at the head of the Delta about eleven miles from Beth-
any. There are four pumping plants with a combined capacity of consid-
erably more than 1 15 second-feet of water and a total horsepower of 1655
electric motors.
The main canal divides the district into two sections, Byron on the
north and Bethany on the south. All of the water for the Byron section
runs northerly through a canal seven miles in length. The district covers
a tract of irregular shape, in length about twelve miles north and south,
with a width of from one mile in the center to three and one-half miles at
the northern end and about three miles at the southern. The main pump-
ing plant is near the center. The Southern Pacific Railroad runs through
the length of the entire district; the Santa Fe is about two miles distant
from the northern end, and the Western Pacific about two miles from the
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 205
southern. There are deep navigable sloughs and delta branches of the
San Joaquin River extending to the district, and steamers are supplied
with numerous landings to facilitate shipping of the products raised. The
county highway also passes through the entire tract. The southern part
of the district is chiefly adobe, and the balance is clay loam 18 to 30 inches
deep. The drainage is a natural slope favorable for the run-off. Alfalfa
and fruits are raised in abundance; while the higher land is given over
to grain and grain hay. With this fourth irrigation district the entire
eastern part of Contra Costa County is made one of the most productive
sections in the entire State.
Growth of Irrigation, as Reflected by the Press
The following news items from the issues of the local press, here pre-
sented for the most part in chronological order, even though sometimes
without date, afford additional interesting data regarding the history of
irrigation in the county.
June 19, 1886. — -An irrigation club has been organized at Antioch
with the following officers: J. B. Abbott, president; C. F. Montgomery,
vice-president; George Fowler, secretary; H. F. Beede, treasurer.
1911. — The great irrigation scheme for Eastern Contra Costa, which
was brought to light this week, is creating considerable discussion through-
out the county, especially in the eastern section. The residents are hoping
that the plan may be carried out. A company of capitalists from the bay
region has been organized and R. L. Dunn, engineer, has been engaged
to draw up plans. These plans provided for pumping water from the San
Jose near Oakley to a large storage reservoir. From this point the
water will be run over 3500 acres through laterals over twenty-five miles
in length. The distance will extend from Bay Point to the San Joaquin
County line and to the slopes of Diablo.
December 2, 1911. — Reclamation District No. 779 was declared
valid by the court. A fight which has been carried on before the supervisors
and the supreme court for three years over this district came to a close
when Judge Latimer handed down a decision in the Portman case.
March 27, 1912. — Four hundred acres will be put into alfalfa by
Wilhoit & West and cut up into small tracts and sold. A complete irriga-
tion system is to be installed, and from 400 to 600 acres more will
be put into alfalfa next spring.
August 24, 1912. — The great Marsh Grant is to be cut into small
tracts by the Balfour-Guthrie Company. Rights of way for a great ir-
rigation system have been secured. The water will be taken from Old
River and raised by electrical pumps to- a sufficient height to permit it
to flow over the vast acreage, which will rival Imperial Valley in pro-
ductivity.
November 9, 1912. — The district around Walnut Creek is becoming
an irrigation center. Roleb McPherson is pumping water from a fine well
onto his alfalfa. He will cut seven crops this year. The Bancroft place
206 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
has a fifty-horse-power motor in their well, which has been used to irrigate
their trees. W. H. Leahy has installed a small plant and is able to
irrigate his orchard and garden.
November 29, 1912. — By a judgment handed down by Judge R. H.
Latimer in the superior court, Reclamation District No. 800 in Contra
Costa County, commonly known as the Wilhoit District, was declared
legal and valid. This ends the contention in regard to the swamp lands,
which included land owned by the Bairds.
January 25, 1913. — Ground was broken for the Marsh Grant irri-
gation system by Edward Malley, a contractor of San Francisco.
The F. X. Smith ranch of 160 acres near Brentwood was sold to
Balfour-Guthrie Company. These holdings will be included in the big
irrigation district.
March, 1913. — The contract for the dredger-cut from Indian Slough
through Point of Timber landing, and also for concrete construction on
the Eastern Contra Costa Irrigation Project, was awarded March 6th.
The dredging, which will require the moving of 100,000 cubic yards of
earth and will cost $4500, was awarded to the Golden State Miners
Iron Works. The State Contsruction Company, concrete contractors,
are to receive $17,000 for concrete work. Work on both contracts is
to begin at once. Ail this work to be done on the Marsh Grant, or
Los Medanos Rancho.
March 15, 1913. — When the reclamation of the Sand Mound tract is
complete, all the land lying between Taylor and Sand Mound Sloughs and
False River, which had formerly been a part of the mainland by the
damming up of Dutch Slough, will be converted into an island. The old
dams on Dutch Slough have been cut away; and the flood water of
False River, which had no outlet by that course and which had flooded
the lands mentioned, will be allowed free passage through Sand Mound,
Taylor and Dutch Sloughs. This also makes the big Jersey Tract an
island.
May 17, 1913.— Peter G. King, of Oakland, sells 500 acres ad-
joining the Marsh Grant to Balfour-Guthrie Company, and this will be
added to their other holdings and come under the irrigation project.
August 16, 1913. — A party of engineers are in the field making pre-
liminary surveys for the irrigation system considered by C. A. Hooper for
his property, the Los Medanos Rancho near Pittsburg.
October, 1913. — A big irrigation project was launched at Byron;
8000 acres will be watered, extending from Italian Slough, where the
water will be taken along the hill section of McCabe's, crossing to Hoff-
man's, thence to Peterson's, Cople's, and Henry McCabe's, and taking in
all the land east to the Wilhoit-West holdings. There will be three lifts
of twenty feet each. The main ditch will be six miles long, with fifteen
miles of laterals.
March 7, 1914. — The Byron-Bethany Irrigation Company, with a
capitalization of $100,000, has been organized by ranchers in the vicinity
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 207
of Byron, and articles of incorporation were filed Monday. The plan
is to build an irrigation system to furnish water to the farms in the
vicinity of Byron. Work will be begun at once. The incorporators are:
August Alexson, Charles Cople, R. R. Houston, J. A. Modin, C. F.
Peterson, William Saxouer and V. Taylor.
January 9, 1915. — A project for the formation of a new reclamation
district in Contra Costa County is on foot, and the supervisors will act
on the petition at their next meeting. The district embraces 3516.54 acres,
some of the finest Delta land in the county. The owners are the Standard
Investment Company, 100 acres; W. H. Maxson, 465.18 acres; J.
H. Prince, 184 acres; J. I. Parsons, 274 acres; F. K. Houston, W. J.
Hotchkiss, T. Friedlander, 1440.95 acres; W. T. Session, W. T. Jeter,
H. E. Irish, C. W. Purrington, 516 acres; E. A. Bridgeford, 370 acres.
September 15, 1916. — The big irrigation ditch of the Byron-Bethany
Irrigation Company is completed. Water is now the problem, as the
Sproule & Driscoll interests served an injunction and want compensation.
March 2, 1918. — A project which aims to put many thousands of
acres of farming land near Knightsen under irrigation is being agitated.
Recently there were placed on record deeds by which the California
Delta Farms Company made valuable reclamation of drainage and ir-
rigation rights to Districts 2029, 2027, and 2026; and the Boulder
Land Company to District 576; the considerations named were $327,650,
$375,140, $449,000, and $321,398.
The California Delta Farms Company was the recipient of $1,000,000
from Districts 2024 and 2026 when that amount was paid for the levees
surrounding the new irrigation and reclamation project in Eastern Contra
Costa County. The cost of the levees was assessed to the entire district;
and the county, while retaining the land, received that amount for the
levees alone.
1919. — The irrigation plan at Knightsen has again been revived
by the Farm Center. A total of twenty-four landowners have already
signed the petition, and seventeen more have signified their intention to
do so.
August 9, 1919. — As the petition for the 9000-acre Knightsen Ir-
rigation District is completed, it will be presented to the supervisors.
The Farm Bureau is now turning its attention to other irrigation proj-
ects, which, when completed, will add 40,000 acres to the irrigated area
of the county. The new districts contemplated are: Oakley-Antioch, 6000
acres; Pittsburg, Concord and Walnut Creek, 9000 acres; between Antioch
and Bay Point, and 20,000 acres around Concord and Walnut Creek;
and Danville District of 1500 acres in San Ramon Valley near Danville.
January, 1920. — The Knightsen Irrigation project was carried at the
election January 19th, by a vote of 94 to 23. The directors of the five
districts included are Joe Minto, 1st; E. B. Sellers, 2nd; H. W. Heidorn,
3rd; Frank Estes, 4th; Byron Grigsby, 5th; Dr. I. M. Bailey, assessor;
A. H. Shafer, tax collector; A. E. Bonnicksen, treasurer.
208 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
At a meeting of the board of supervisors Monday, the Knightsen Ir-
rigation District was declared officially organized as the result of the
recent election held there.
February 28, 1920.- — A meeting was held to consider the Oakley-
Antioch Irrigation project by the Oakley Farm Center.
April 17, 1920. — -The Byron-Bethany Irrigation Company has ap-
plied for authority to sell its holdings to Bryon-Bethany Irrigation Dis-
trict for $265,000.
September 27, 1920. — The directors of the recently formed Lone
Tree Irrigation district met at the Lone Tree schoolhouse Friday night
for the purpose of mapping out the ditches, etc.
January, 1921.— With the approval of the proposed Knightsen Irriga-
tion District by Assistant State Engineer Whipple, plans are being made
for the establishment of an irrigation system in that section of the
county.
At the election ordered for April 6 in the Knightsen Irrigation
District, to vote on bonds in the amount of $650,000 for a system that
will water 10,000 acres, the bonds carried, 99 to 21.
A recent report of the Department of Commerce of the United
States shows an increase of 66 per cent in the amount of irrigated lands in
Contra Costa County. In 1910 there were 32,640 acres under cultivation;
in 1920, 49,125 acres. The irrigated acreage was 26,856 in 1909, and
44,833 in 1920. The amount of land capable of irrigation in the county is
46,472 acres.
June, 1921. — A petition has been filed for a dissolution of the Byron-
Bethany Irrigation Company.
The Byron-Bethany Irrigation Company was formally dissolved by
Judge Latimer on August 9, 1921. The concern was organized a few years
ago for the purpose of constructing an irrigation system, which is now
in full operation, and the work of the company is completed.
December 9, 1922. — The Brentwood Irrigation District has been
approved by the supervisors. There are 7855 acres included in the
district.
January, 1924. — Jersey Island Reclamation District No. 830 has made
application to the State Department of Public Works for use of water from
San Joaquin River and tributary streams for irrigating purposes.
Directors for Brentwood and Knightsen Irrigation Districts elected
January 25 : Robert Wallace, Jr., and A. D. McKenzie, for Brent-
wood, vice R. F. MacLeod; H. O. Abbott, P. J. Moody and H. W.
Heidorn so succeed E. B. Sellers, F. H. Estes, and B. L. Grigsby of the
Knightsen District.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 209
CHAPTER XVII
THE PIONEERS: NATIVITY, NECROLOGY,
BRIEF MENTION
In this chapter brief mention is made of some of the more important
of the pioneers who have lived in Contra Costa County, together with
data of birth, death, and marriage — often under date line as given in the
local press. For convenience of reference, the alphabetical arrangement
has been followed rather than the chronological. Much additional in-
formation regarding the pioneer settlers of the county will be found in a
later chapter of "Gleanings from the Contra Costa Gazette," in which the
chief events of interest in the county's history are presented in chrono-
logical order from 1858 to the present time.
J. P. Abbott was born in New Hampshire in 1840, came to Califor-
nia in 1863, located in Antioch in 1867, and published the Antioch Ledger
for eleven years. He married Melvina G. McMaster, June 25, 1872.
His death occurred in 1912.
Mrs. Encarnacion Altemarino, of Pinole, daughter of Ygnacio Mar-
tinez, for whom the town was named, died at Pinole, aged seventy-five.
Don Juan B. Alvarado was born in Monterey in 1908. He was gov-
ernor of California from 1836 to 1843, and collector of customs from
1843 to the American occupation. In 1836 he raised the standard of in-
dependence and proclaimed the "Free and Sovereign State of Alta Cali-
fornia." He died in San Pablo in 1882. He was called the "Napoleon
of California."
February 19, 1926. — On Saturday night, Mrs. Honora Anderson,
widow of Capt. Ludwig Anderson, succumbed to the infirmities of old age,
and breathed her last in the home she had occupied as a young wife and
mother. She was born in Ireland on September 29, 1835, and came to Cali-
fornia when a young girl. For seventy-four years she lived in this State,
sixty-eight of that time in Contra Costa County.
On November 20, 1910, Capt. Ludwig Anderson died at Pacheco af-
ter more than half a century of activity as a business men of the county.
He was eighty-five years and three months old at the time of his death.
He was born in Denmark, August 26, 1825, went to sea when sixteen
years old, later sailed to the United States, arriving in New York in 1848,
and in 1850 came via the Horn to California on the Oregon, the vessel
that brought news to California that she had been admitted to Statehood.
He engaged in the coasting trade until 1860, and then engaged in the lum-
ber business in Pacheco. He established the firm of L. Anderson & Com-
pany there, and later established the business in Martinez. In 1858 he
210 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
married Honora Troy in San Francisco, and they had seven children. He
was survived by his widow and six children.
Smith Ashley was born in Ohio in 1822, came to California in 1853
via Nicaragua, and in 1861 located at Pacheco, where he was a farmer.
In 1846 he married Sally L. Call.
April 8, 1907. — A. E. Austin, a pioneer of 1886 in Contra Costa Coun-
ty, died aged eighty years. He was a blacksmith and wheelwright. His
first shop in Martinez was on Escobar Street, where Johnson's Machine
Shop is located.
F. S. Bacon was born in Massachusetts in 1833. He came to Cali-
fornia across the plains in 1852, and the next year came to Bay Point and
pre-empted land. In 1860 he came to Pacheco, but soon moved to Con-
cord, where he was the first merchant.
January 7, 1891. — Samuel Bacon, born in Barre, Mass., died in Con-
cord, aged fifty-seven years. He was a pioneer of 1852. He served as
postmaster of Pacheco and was one of the original settlers of Concord,
where he was in the mercantile business.
On July 6, 1907, A. A. Bailey died at Vine Hill. He was born in
Wisconsin in 1844 and came to California in 1874. In 1877 he came to
Contra Costa County as principal of the Antioch schools, and he was
elected superintendent of schools in 1879, and also for the succeeding
four terms. In 1906 he took up the real estate business in Richmond.
He was a Democrat.
Died, in Martinez, December 4, 1891, M. H. Bailhache, a native of
Illinois, aged fifty-three years. He was an old and highly respected citi-
zen of this county, where he resided since 1870, and was a member of
General Canby Post, G. A. R. He was serving as postmaster.
H. W. Baker, a pioneer of the county, died at his home in Antioch on
December 17, 1898. He was foreman for L. L. Robinson of the Los
Medanos Grant, and was a member of the Odd Fellows.
Died, December 20, 1922, J. Rio Baker, aged seventy-three years.
He was born in Utah and came to California in the early seventies and
settled at Antioch. He was in the drug business, served as postmaster,
and was appointed county treasurer to succeed L. E. Buttner, deceased-
He was a Mason.
John Baker was born in Pennsylvania in 1819, crossed the plains with
oxen in 1853, and located on a ranch near Walnut Creek. In 1848 he
married Martha Ann Glass; they had four children.
Robert O. Baldwin passed away on April 26, 1908, at his home near
Danville, aged eighty years, just one month and one day after the cele-
bration of his Golden Wedding anniversary. He was born in Ohio in
1828 and in 1850 came to California, crossing the plains with mule-teams
and pack-animals. In 1852 he came to Contra Costa County to visit
and was so impressed that he remained, locating on a ranch one and a half
miles southeast of Danville. He married Mary Cox in 1858, and for
fifty years lived in the same house. Five of their six children survived him.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 211
Died, in Martinez, July 21, 1891, Matthew R. Barber, aged seventy-
five years. Matthew Barber was born in Ohio in 1815, crossed the plains
in 1849, worked in the redwoods near San Antonio (then in Contra Costa
County), and while there wrote the tickets for the first election for of-
ficers of the new county. Later he built several of the first houses in
Martinez, and then farmed two miles from town. He located perma-
nently in the county in 1852, and served as public administrator four terms.
He married Orpha Bean in 1837, and had five children.
October 12, 1912. — J. P. Bernard, a pioneer, died in Martinez, aged
seventy-six years. He was born in Massachusetts in 1836, and came to
California as a young man. He had made his home in Martinez for twen-
ty-seven years.
Benjamin F. Beebe was born in New York in 1830, came via Panama
to California in 1863, located in Contra Costa County and farmed near
Concord. He served on the board of supervisors. In 1869 he married
Fannie C. Kuble, and they had two children. His death occurred in
May, 1901.
Died, on January 27, 1913, William F. Belding, pioneer merchant of
San Pablo, president of the Bank of Richmond, and a member of the
board of education. He left a widow, Mrs. Emma Belding; a son, W.
F. Jr., and two grandchildren. Mr. Belding was a prominent Mason.
January 16, 1926. — Mrs. Virginia Belding, widow of William F.
Belding, passed away at her home in San Pablo Tuesday morning. She
was the sole survivor of a pioneer family and had resided in San Pablo
and San Francisco since 1860.
C. M. Belshaw and wife were killed in an automobile accident No-
vember 23, 1919, when their Packard touring car plunged over a 400-
foot cliff between Rockaway and Moss Beaches on the Pedro Mountain
grade. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Sherwood of Seattle, who were with them,
were also killed. C. M. Belshaw was one of the best-known men in Con-
tra Costa County. He was born in Amador County in 1861, was reared
in San Francisco, graduated from Harvard in 1883, and was elected to
the Assembly on the Republican ticket in 1894. He was an Elk and a
Native Son.
January 23, 1926. — John Bendixon, at one time public administrator
of Contra Costa County, died at the Martinez hospital Friday morning,
following an illness extending over a period of two years. He was born
in Denmark and was eighty-three years old.
May 20, 1905. — Seeley James Bennett, one of the pioneer stage men
of the county, died last Sunday, aged seventy-one years. He was born
in Ohio in 1833 and came to California via the Gulf of Mexico in 1859.
Coming to Contra Costa County, he engaged in the livery business in
Pacheco, in 1860. In 1861 he started and operated the first stage line
from Pacheco to the Mount Diablo coal mines. In 1862 he came to
Martinez, and that year he married Jane Hough. They had one son.
Mr. Bennett was a Mason.
212 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Mrs. Harriet A. Bent died on February 19, 1899, aged eighty years.
She was born in Vermont in 1819, was married in 1838, and in the early
fifties came to California. She was one of the first white settlers in Al-
hambra Valley.
Mathias Berlingen was born in Prussia in 1830, came to America in
1861 and to California via Panama in 1863, and in 1867 located in Con-
tra Costa County at Point of Timber. In 1874 he married Else K.
Schnoor.
Died, in Martinez, February 2, 1888, Dr. Hermann Bernett, a native
of Germany, aged fifty years.
Simon Blum, pioneer merchant prince of Contra Costa County, died
Saturday evening, November 30, 1913, at his residence in Martinez at the
age of seventy-nine years. He was born in the North of France in 1834;
in 1850 he left for New York; and in 1852 he came via the Isthmus on
the steamship Uncle Sam, boarding the Sierra-Nevada for San Francisco
and arriving there in February, 1853. In 1854 he removed to Martinez,
where he bought the mercantile business of Captain Fogg, and thereafter
this was his home and the scene of his operations. He became a very
prominent citizen, and wealthy. His brother, Gabriel Blum, was asso-
ciated with him. He married Leontine Alexandre in 1861, and they had
five children. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. In 1911 Mr. and
Mrs. Blum celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary.
Henry Blume was born in Prussia in 1837, came to California in 1856,
located at Pinole in Contra Costa County in 1859, and engaged in ranch-
ing. In 1867 he married Frederika Gohunning, and they had five sons.
Joshua Bollinger was born in Missouri in 1810, crossed the plains in
1850 with ox-teams, and in 1855 came to Contra Costa County and
farmed at Bollinger's Canyon.
Mrs. Sophie Boone, a resident of San Ramon Valley for years, and
prominent in the Danville section, died January 16, 1921, aged seventy-
two years.
Mrs. Boots, one of the first school teachers in Martinez, died in the
spring of 1918, at her home in Niles, Alameda County, aged ninety-nine.
Mrs. Elitha Boss, who came to Contra Costa County in 1851 and for
sixty-six years made her home here, died in Pleasant Hill on May 24,
1917. She was the mother of six children.
On May 21, 1923, at her home in Martinez, occurred the death of
Mrs. Amelia M. Bowen at the age of eighty-three years. She was born
in Mexico, and came to California in 1850 and to this county in 1856, since
which time she had lived in Martinez. She was survived by three sons.
John D. Bowen, supervisor of the fourth district, residing at Stewarts-
ville, died on September 7, 1885, aged sixty-six years. He was a native
of South Wales, born April 9, 1819.
February 28, 1920. — Joseph Boyd, a pioneer of Concord, died of
injuries received when an explosion occurred while he was welding a large
piece of pipe taken from a water-pump. He was a native of Canada and
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 213
had been a resident of Concord for thirty years, where he owned con-
siderable property and operated a blacksmith and machine shop.
Died, February 26, 1915, at his home in Alhambra Valley, Fred
Brackman, aged forty-nine years. He was born in Ygnacio Valley, but
for thirty years prior to his death was a resident of Alhambra Valley.
He left a widow and four sons.
Thomas W. Bradley was born in Tennessee in 1818 and crossed the
plains in 1843 under the guidance of Joel Walker. He served in the
Bear Flag War under Captain Grigsby. In 1849 he came to this county
and farmed near Lafayette. He married Rebecca Allen in 1846, and
had nine children.
Died, in Martinez, December 25, 1895, Frank D. Briare, a native of
New York, aged seventy-five years. He was born March 22, 1820, came
West in 1850, and in 1852 came to Martinez. For years he was in the
restaurant business.
Mrs. Mary Ford Briare, wife of Frank D. Briare, died in Martinez,
June 26, 1885. She was born in Ireland in 1834, and came to Boston in
1849, and arrived in California the day of the Terry and Broderick duel.
Since 1859 she had lived in this county.
January 27, 1906. — The death of Louisa Briones, the oldest native
daughter in the State, occurred at Oakland last Tuesday. She was born
in the old Mexican garrison in San Francisco, June 21, 1816, a daughter of
Joaquin Moraga. In 1844 she married Ramon Briones, of Briones Val-
ley, Contra Costa County.
John L. Bromley was born in Maryland in 1820, served in the Mexi-
can War, came to San Francisco in 1852, and in 1853 located on Mount
Diablo Ranch. He served as justice of the peace, associate justice of the
court of sessions, supervisor and assessor. In 1851 he married Anna
Levering, and they had eleven children. He moved to Oakland in 1873.
Died, January 9, 1901, in Martinez, C. Y. Brown, a native of Contra
Costa County, aged forty years. He was born in Lafayette in 1861, edu-
cated in the Martinez schools, admitted to the bar in 1883, elected dis-
trict attorney in 1891 on the Democratic ticket, and reelected in 1894
and 1898. He was a member of Mount Diablo Parlor, No. 101, N. S.
G. W.
On January 14, 1922, Mrs. Caroline T. Brown, widow of Judge T. A.
Brown, answered the final summons at her home in Martinez, aged eighty-
eight years. She was born in Illinois and knew Lincoln when he worked
in a grist mill for her father. In 1849 she came to California, and in
1850 to Martinez. In 1850 Rev. Cameron, her father, built the first
brick building in Martinez. She married T. A. Brown in 1851. She was
survived by two sons.
Elam Brown (see his biographical sketch on another page).
Died, at Lafayette, January 18, 1884, Mrs. Margaret Brown, wife
of Hon. Elam Brown, aged eighty-nine years and twenty-eight days.
214 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The death of Mrs. Minnie Andrew Brown, wife of Elam C. Brown,
occurred in Martinez in the summer of 1922, at the age of fifty-five years.
She was born in Ohio in 1867, and came to California and accepted a po-
sition in the Martinez school.
Laura A. Brown, widow of Warren Brown, died at Lafayette on
April 9, 1914, aged eighty years, six months. She was born in Ohio in
1833, and crossed the plains in 1853 with her mother, Mrs. Lois Hast-
ings, and party. That fall she came to Martinez. She married Warren
Brown in 1854, and had been a resident of Lafayette over fifty years.
Hon. Thomas A. Brown was born in Illinois in 1823, crossed the
plains to Oregon in 1843, in 1847 came down to California, and in
1849 located in Martinez. In 1849 he was appointed alcalde for the dis-
trict; and in 1850 he was elected the first county clerk and recorder. He
was then elected supervisor, and in 1856, county judge. He served in the
State Assembly in 1865, was elected county judge in 1874, and superior
judge in 1879.
Wallace Brown died at the age of sixty-three years in Martinez on
December 3, 1921. He was the son of the late Judge T. A. Brown, and
was born in this city.
Hon. Warren Brown was born in Illinois in 1826 and came with his
father, Elam Brown, to California in 1846. He was elected county
surveyor in 1850, served as a member of the State Assembly in 1854, and
in 1869 was elected sheriff. He died in 1889.
James Bryant, a native of England, died in Martinez November 8,
1908, over eighty-six years of age. He came to California via the Horn,
being 112 days on the voyage, and came to this county in 1862. He
mined at Nortonville, and five years prior to his death he came to Mar-
tinez to live.
William H. Buckley died at his home in Walnut Creek at the age of
ninety-nine years. He was born in the State of New York, came to Cali-
fornia from Mexico in 1849, and in 1854 bought land near Walnut Creek,
where he died.
Died, in Martinez, January 3, 1898, R. R. Bunker, a native of Massa-
chusetts, aged seventy-five years. He was a pioneer of 1850 in Califor-
nia. In 1860 he came to Martinez and bought an interest in the Gazette,
and until 1861 it was published by Bradford & Bunker. That year Brad-
ford sold to W. W. Theobalds, the firm becoming Bunker & Theobalds.
In 1861 the paper was removed to Pacheco. In 1865 C. B. Portei
bought the Theobalds interest, and in 1873 the paper came back to Mar-
tinez. In March, 1882, F. F. Foster bought a one-third interest in the
paper, and the firm became Bunker, Porter & Foster. Porter and Foster
retired, and Bunker and Davenport published the paper, and later Bunker
and Needles. In 1892 W. G. Brown and Bunker formed a partnership,
and in 1895 Mr. Bunker retired.
Louis N. Buttner, county treasurer, died suddenly at 12:30 Satur-
day morning, July 5, 1913, aged forty-seven years. He was born at
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 215
Sunol, and in 1889, in San Francisco, was married to Mary Hendry, who
with two sons was left to mourn his passing. He was a prominent Mason
and Past Master of No. 41, and was a member of the Native Sons of
the Golden West at Crockett.
W. E. Calahan, Assemblyman, dropped dead in his drug store at
Antioch, December 26, 1919.
Joseph F. Carey, one of the very early settlers of eastern Contra
Costa County, died Tuesday, May 24, 1910. He was born in New York
in 1833, moved to Wisconsin with his parents, and in 1853 crossed the
plains to California. Settling in Contra Costa County in 1865, he en-
gaged in ranching, and had a blacksmith shop at Brentwood. In 1866
he married Laura Ann Welch.
Dr. J. H. Carothers was born in Pennsylvania in 1824 and graduated
at Miami Medical College. He located at Martinez in 1854, laid out
the town of Pacheco in 1857, and was elected to the legislature in 1869.
July 8, 1905.— After a life of unusual activity, D. S. Carpenter died
in Martinez, aged seventy-four years. He was a prominent Odd Fellow.
He was born in New York in 1833, came to California in 1852, and in
1856 located in Contra Costa County. He served as justice of the peace
and as county tax collector. In 1863 he married Sarah Travers Curry,
and they had eleven children.
April 6, 1924. — J. P. Casey, of Port Costa, was summoned by death,
at the age of seventy-nine years. A native of Ireland, he came to the
United States fifty years ago, and to Port Costa forty years ago. Mr.
Casey served sixteen years as a member of the board of supervisors. He
left three children.
Patricio Castro was born in Contra Costa County in 1843; he farmed
five miles south of San Pablo. He married Harriet O'Neil in 1875, and
they had three children.
John Cavanaugh was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1811; he
came to California via Panama in 1862 and located in San Ramon Val-
ley, but later moved to Mount Diablo Valley.
John G. Chase was born in New Hampshire in 1837; came via Pan-
ama in 1856, and in 1858 located in this county at Antioch, when there
was only one house there, and engaged in the livery business. He mar-
ried Elmira A. Johnson in 1868, and had two children.
February 16, 1918. — J. H. Chichester, a pioneer of Richmond, died
at his San Pablo home Thursday evening, aged sixty-five years. He was
born in New York in 1853, and married Miss Alice Pabb in 1876. He
taught school and soon after his marriage moved to San Pablo.
May 19, 1906. — John P. Chrisman, a pioneer resident of Contra
Costa County, died at Danville Saturday, aged eighty years.
Died, in Martinez, May 27, 1901, George W. Christian, a native of
New York, aged seventy-three years. Mr. Christian was born in 1828 and
came to California across the plains in 1849. In 1852 he moved to this
county, where he had since lived.
216 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Daniel Clancy was born in Ireland in 1822, came via Panama in 1859,
and in 1860 located in this county. He married Mary A. Falvey in 1851,
and had nine children.
On March 16, 1913, in San Pablo, Charles Henry Clark, the oldest
voter in the county, died, aged ninety-seven years and eleven months.
R. J. Clark, a pioneer of Contra Costa, died at his residence in Mar-
tinez, March 27, 1885. He was born in Nantucket, November 20, 1815,
and in 1851 came to California at the solicitation of Captain Coffin, who
desired his services as engineer of the ferry plying between Martinez, and
Benicia. He remained at his post thirty years.
May 26, 1906. — Mrs. Susan Classen, who came to California in
1853 to join her father, Seth M. Swain, died in Martinez, aged seventy-
four years.
Joel Clayton was born in England. He came across the plains to
California in 18'5D, located land near Black Diamond coal mines in 1859,
and established the town of Clayton. He died in 1872.
Felix G. Coats was born in Missouri in 1828, crossed the plains by
prairie schooner in 1849, and located with his parents in Contra Costa
County in 1852. On February 23, 1860, he married Lovina Doggett,
and they had six children. He died on June 10, 1916.
Died, January 4, 1886, Wilson Coats, a native of Tennessee, born in
1802, who came to California, crossing the plains with oxen in 1849. He
located in Contra Costa County about 1852, settling in Tassajara Valley,
being then the only settler there.
August 21, 1915. — Mrs. Ann Coleman, one of the oldest pioneers
of Martinez, died Monday, aged ninety years. She had lived in Contra
Costa County fifty-two years.
Died, May 14, 1918, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Mary A.
Armstrong of Byron, Mrs. Rebecca Conner, aged ninety-six years and
six months. She was born in Ireland in 1821, came to the United States
in 1847, and for forty-four years had lived in Byron.
John Conway was born in Ireland in 1830 and was brought to Amer-
ica an infant. He came via Panama to California in 1860, located near
Danville, and farmed. Later he engaged in mercantile business in San
Ramon, having bought out P. G. Peel. He married Nora O'Brien in
1858, and they had two children. He died on January 24, 1915, at Dan-
ville, aged eighty-five years.
Died, near Alamo, December 27, 1891, Henry Cook, pioneer, aged
seventy-four years. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1817, crossed the
plains to Oregon in 1847, and came on to California in 1848. He located
in Contra Costa in 1874.
June 10, 1922. — This week, in Seattle, was held the funeral of George
W. Cormack, a native of Contra Costa County, whose discovery of gold
on Bonanza Creek in the Klondike, August 17, 1896, sent 60,000 pros-
pectors hurrying to Alaska, visited up to that time only by trappers and
missionaries.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 217
March 13, 1926. — Herman Costa, for over fifty years a resident of
Martinez, died at his home on Thompson Street on Tuesday night, aged
sixty-nine years. For thirty-two years he had been a member of the Odd
Fellows Lodge.
January 15, 1921. — Died, at Concord, J. C. Costa, aged eighty-four
years. He was born in Portugal and when a young man came to Cali-
fornia. He was survived by ten children.
November 12, 1898. — Thursday morning at 9 o'clock, Charles S.
Cousins, a highly respected resident of the county, died at his home in
Martinez. He was born in New York in 1830, came to California in
1859, and located in Contra Costa County. In 1861 he became a clerk
in the United States mint at San Francisco; in 1870 he came to Pinole
and farmed; in 1882 he was elected county recorder, and held the office
until 1895, when he retired.
William Cowan, Sr., one of Contra Costa County's oldest residents,
died at his home near Brentwood on February 3, 1910, aged eighty-two.
William Wilson Cox, of San Ramon Valley, died Friday, April 15,
1910, at. the family residence. He was born in Indiana in 1833. In
1852 he went to Missouri with oxen, and on May 2, 1853, started on the
five-months journey to California, crossing the plains and coming to this
county upon his arrival. He had lived here ever since. In 1865 he mar-
ried Mary E. Grist, and they had six children.
Died, in Byron, December 13, 1896, Samuel Crawford, a native of
Scotland, aged sixty-seven years.
Died, February 21, 1908, James Curry, an old pioneer, born in Ten-
nessee, in 1835, who came to California in 1851. He crossed the plains
with ox-teams and located in Contra Costa County in 1852, when he set-
tled in Moraga Valley, and later moved to Curry's Canyon; still later,
in 1860, he went to Clayton and engaged in the butcher business and af-
terwards in the livery business. He drove the stage from Antioch to
Oakland. He married, in 1861, Ella Callahan; and they had eight children.
September 26, 1925. — William Dainty, pioneer of eastern Contra
Costa and one of the best-known ranchers of the Brentwood section,
passed away Tuesday night about eight o'clock at Merritt Hospital, Oak-
land, after a short illness. He was a native of Brentwood and was about
sixty years of age. He is mourned by a widow, Mrs. Ella Dainty, one son,
Leonard, and three daughters, Mrs. Esther Moody, and Misses Velma
and Wilma Dainty, all of Brentwood. A particularly sad feature of the
death of the pioneer is that one of his daughters was to have become a
bride next Saturday. Mr. Dainty was a nephew of Mrs. H. L. Howard
of Martinez, and was well known here, where he frequently visited.
Thomas Dake, for more than thirty years a resident of Martinez,
died on September 10, 1919, ninety-one years of age. He had been a
resident of California about forty-five years.
Died, on March 27, 1921, Mrs. Marie Elizabeth Daley, one of the pio-
neer women of Martinez, who came here with her father, Cornelius S.
218 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Whitcomb, when she was four years old, and settled near Lafayette. She
had lived in the county over sixty years, and was an active worker in the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
March 30, 1907. — Died, aged seventy-nine years, David Davis, a
pioneer miner of Nortonville. He was a native of Wales, born in 1828,
and in the early sixties came to this county.
John Davis was born in Dalmatia in 1825, came to California in 1849,
and in 1851 located in Contra Costa County. He married Anna Connor
and had six children.
March 19, 1911. — Died, in Pinole, David Dean, a pioneer of Contra
Costa County and a native of New York, aged eighty-two years.
January 28, 1925. — One of the pioneers of Richmond, Peter W.
Dean, passed away at his home at 829 Fifty-sixth Street, Oakland, last
night at about 8 o'clock. He was forty-three years old and was a native
of Berkeley. He was the brother of Patrick M. Dean of Richmond, the
man who became famous about twenty years ago by the promotion of
the Nelson and Wolgast fight at Point Richmond.
R. G. Dean, a pioneer of the county, passed away at Brentwood April
12, 1920, in his ninetieth year. He was born in New York in 1831, was
orphaned at sixteen years of age, and left for California when he was
eighteen years old. He married Miss Jerusha H. Martin in San Fran-
cisco in 1864. He was the man who named Lake Tahoe.
John Denkinger was born in Germany in 1830, came via Panama in
1858, and in 1863 located in this county east of Concord. He married
Emilie Balz in 1863, and had four children.
January 28, 1911. — With the death of Mrs. Carmen de Soto in Con-
cord last Saturday, there passed the last of the Spanish pioneer settlers
who came to Contra Costa County following its admission to Statehood.
She was born at Warm Springs Rancho, near the Mission of San Jose,
in 1830, a daughter of Don Valentine Higuera. In 1852 she married
Silveria de Soto, and in 1853 they moved to Contra Costa County with
their personal property in a carreta. Mr. de Soto died in 1906.
Died, August 10, 1885, in Martinez, Mrs. Eyiaca de Briones de Soto
a native of California, aged eighty-one years.
Silveria de Soto, one of the last of the early pioneers, died on Octo-
ber 13, 1906, aged seventy-six years. He was born at San Jose and came
to Contra Costa County in 1853, settling at San Ramon, and later in Ygna-
cio Valley, where he lived until his death. In 1852 he married Carmen
Higuera. He was survived by his widow and seven children.
Andrew Diffenbach was born in New York in 1832, came via the Horn
on the Empire in 1852, located in this county at Brentwood in 1867, and
was a rancher and butcher.
November 17, 1883. — Austin Dohrmann, one of the oldest and best-
known Contra Costa citizens, died at his home near Concord.
Theodore Downing was born in Michigan in 1826, came to California
across the plains in 1854, and engaged in the butcher business in Mar-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 219
tinez : in 1859 he was in the hotel business in Pacheco, and later farmed.
He married Mary Quackenbush in 1852, and had two children.
William Hall Dukes, pioneer of 1852, of Pleasant Hill, passed away
at his home July 5, 1917. He was born in Tennessee, and on coming to
California engaged in mining tor a short time; later he located in Contra
Costa County, where he bought a farm, built a house, and lived the re-
mainder of his days. He and his wife, who died eight months before his
death, had five daughters and one son.
A. E. Dunkel, vice-president of the Bank of Martinez and a prom-
inent Contra Costa citizen, died at his home in Martinez on June 13,
1922, aged sixty years. He was born in Angels Camp, Calaveras County,
in 1862. He came to Contra Costa County as a young man and located
at Pacheco, but later came to Martinez. He was county recorder for
twelve years and resigned to take over the management of the Contra
Costa County Abstract & Title Company. He was survived by his widow
and a son.
Capt. J. E. Durham, for many years a resident of Ygnacio Valley
and an active citizen of the county, died December 12, 1919, aged ninety
years. He was born in 1829 in Tennessee, came to California in 1850
with a government train as teamster to Fort Laramie, and then made his
way to Salt Lake and on to California in 1851. He came to Contra Costa
County in 1870.
Leonard Eddy, a pioneer resident of the county, died in Martinez
June 12, 1885. He was born in New York, January 15, 1828, and came
to California from Illinois in 1849. He located at the base of Mount
Diablo in 1850.
Thomas Edwards was born in North Wales in 1812, crossed the
plains to California in 1849, and in 1867 moved to Carquinez Straits
and engaged in stock-raising. In 1881 he arranged with Mr. Heald to
establish a foundry on his place, and the town of Crockett was laid out.
Charles H. Ellerhorst, aged eighty-three years, and for fifty years
a resident of Pinole, died on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1922. He
was born in Germany and came to California fifty years ago. He was a
Mason.
Mark Elliott, one of the oldest residents of this county, died at his
home in Sycamore Valley, December 7, 1884. He was born in Ohio in
1826, crossed the plains in 1850, and in 1852 located in the Sycamore
district. Coal was struck on his property on Alamo Creek. In 1864 he
married Martha Dempster, and they had two children.
The death of H. F. Emeric, at his ranch at San Pablo, is recorded
August 14, 1899. He was born in New York, and in 1854 came with
his parents to California. He served in the legislature from Contra Costa
County in 1894-1895, and was appointed on the Fish and Game Commis-
sion by Governor Budd. He was fifty-one years of age at the time of his
death.
220 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
*
Died, at his residence near Walnut Creek, July 24, 1883, Capt. Orris
Fales, native of Wales, aged sixty-six years.
May 19, 1912. — Bernardo Fernandez died at Pinole, aged eighty-
three years. He was born in Portugal and from the age of thirteen fol-
lowed the sea until 1853, when he came to San Francisco via the Horn.
He bought land at Pinole in Contra Costa County that same fall, freight-
ed to San Francisco, and added to his holdings as he prospered until he
came to be the owner of 3000 acres, and one of the wealthiest and most
prominent men in the county. He was active up to the time of his
death. In 1859 he married Charlotte Caudra, and they had six children.
March 27, 1918. — Died, at her home in Pinole, Mrs. Carletta Fer-
nandez, for over fifty years a resident of the county. Mrs. Fernandez
was born in Chile in 1840 and came to Pinole in 1859; she was a mem-
ber of the California Pioneers.
Harrison Finley was born in Missouri in 1837, crossed the plains in
1860 with oxen, and in 1863 located in Tassajara Valley. In 1862 he
married Lavina Ray, and they had eight children.
February 28, 1911. — Died, Charles Fish, one of the oldest settlers
of Martinez, aged ninety-two years. He was born in New York in 1818
and came via the Horn to California in 1853, and the next year to Contra
Costa County. In 1857 he became associated with S. Blum; and he was
associated with S. Blum and W. A. Hale in the organization of the Bank
of Martinez. In 1876 he married Mary Elizabeth Grimes.
August 29, 1925. — One of the few remaining pioneer women of early
days in Contra Costa County died Saturday morning when Mrs. Mary
Elizabeth Fish, widow of the late Charles Fish, breathed her last at her
home in Berkeley. Mrs. Fish had been in failing health for some time,
and for several days members of her family had realized that the end
was rapidly approaching.
As Mary Elizabeth Grimes, the pioneer matron was born in Bethany,
N. Y. She became Mrs. Charles Fish before Mr. Fish came to California
in the early fifties; and they resided for many years in Martinez, the Fish
homestead being one of the oldest pioneer habitations in the county
seat. One son, Charles Stanley, and two daughters, Misses Grace Emily
and Blanche Ellen Fish, mourn the passing of their pioneer mother.
October 13, 1900. — The funeral of Lafayette I. Fish, a pioneer of
California of 1850, was held last Thursday afternoon from his residence.
He was born in New York in 1824, came to California in 1850, and in
1852 located in Contra Costa County and bought some land. He was
the first president and one of the organizers of the Bank of Martinez in
1873.
Mrs. Laura Flournoy, a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Cali-
fornia from girlhood, died near Danville, January 15, 1921, aged sixty-
five years. She was an active worker in the Presbyterian church.
Erastus Ford was born in Michigan in 1830, crossed the plains in
1849, and in 1850 located in this county.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 221
William R. Forman was born in Missouri in 1821, came via Panama
to California in 1851, and in 1857 located in this county and farmed; he
also was a member of the firm of Rouse, Forman & Company, lumber
dealers. He married Malinda E. Highland in 1843, and they had a
family of four children.
F.-W. Foskett, president of the First National Bank and a capitalist
of Concord, died on September 11, 1919. He came to Concord many
years ago and engaged in the butcher business with H. H. Elsworthy.
When they sold out they established the First National Bank. He left
a widow, three sons and one daughter.
Died, in Walnut Creek, December 26, 1891, James Foster, aged sixty-
seven years. Mr. Foster was born in Maine on October 31, 1824, and
came to California in the middle fifties and the following year to Alamo,
where he conducted a wagon shop. He was postmaster and justice of the
peace; served five terms as county assessor, being elected in 1869; studied
law, making a specialty of Spanish grants; and was appointed referee for
subdividing lots in Martinez. He became interested in the Gazette in
1887, and his ability contributed much to its success. A short time before
his death he deeded his half-interest in the semi-weekly Gazette to his
granddaughter, Edna Needles. He married Nancy A. Prescott in 1852,
and they had three children.
August 7, 1918. — Mrs. Melvina Abbott Franks, the first white girl
born in Antioch, died at Mount Zion Hospital, San Francisco, Tuesday
night. She was a daughter of J. C. McMaster, one of the first supervisors
of the county back in 1853, and had lived in Antioch all her life. She
married J. P. Abbott after her graduation from Mills College. He died
in 1912, and in 1917 she married Arthur Franks.
R. R. Fuller was born in Massachusetts in 1818, came via the Horn
to California in 1853, and located on a farm near Antioch. He married
Sarah A. Pierce in Massachusetts and had four children.
Died, in Concord, May 25, 1892, Antonio Galindo, at the age of
sixty-seven years.
April 10, 1926. — Concord, April 3. Descended from one of Califor-
nia's oldest Spanish families, and a resident of this community for over
seventy years, Mrs. Marina Galindo, granddaughter of Salvio Pacheco, one
of the earliest Spanish settlers in Contra Costa County, and on her moth-
er's side the granddaughter of Valentino Amador, one of the first Spanish
officers at the San Francisco presidio, died at her home at the age of
seventy-seven years. She was born in Santa Clara on May 25, 1848, and
when seven was brought to Contra Costa County by her parents, and had
lived here ever since.
John Gambs was born in Germany in 1827 and came to the United
States in 1847 and to California via the Horn in 1848. In 1861 he
located in Pacheco, and engaged in merchandising. He married Helen
Ohl and had five children.
222 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Lawrence Geary was born in Baden, Germany, in 1827, came to
the United States in 1848, and in 1852 crossed the plains and located in
Contra Costa County. In 1854 he married Jane Wallace, and they had
five children.
Col. W. W. Gift was born in South Carolina in 1796, came to
California in 1849, and was sergeant-at-arms in the Assembly when the
first legislature met at Monterey. In 1853 he was appointed registrar
of the land office and later he was custom house inspector at Panama
Straits. In 1854 he came to Martinez. He married Elizabeth Dodson in
1819, and had eight children. Colonel Gift was a lover of fine horses,
and raced Twilight. He died in 1881.
Died, near San Ramon, September 9, 1897, David Glass, a native
of Pennsylvania, aged seventy-nine years. He was born in Pennsylvania
in 1818, and moved to Ohio with his parents. In 1841 he went to Iowa,
where he built the first house in Ottumwa. He married Elizabeth J.
Hall, and in 1850 they came to California. In Placerville Mr. Glass en-
gaged in the mercantile business, but that same year he came to Contra
Costa County and lived near Walnut Creek for a time. Later he bought
700 acres south of San Ramon. The deceased left a widow and seven
children.
J. B. Greer, a pioneer of Point of Timber, where he conducted a ware-
house, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. H. Caven, near Concord
on Monday, July 10, 1905, at the age of ninety-five years and six months.
Munson Gregory was born in Ohio in 1828, crossed the plains in 1850,
and in 1857 bought a ranch near Mount Diablo. In 1858 he married
Laura Knox, and they had three children.
Louis Grunauer was born in Prussia in 1854; he came to America in
1868, and direct to California, via Panama. In 1878 he located in
this county and erected the first store in Brentwood, and was the first
postmaster.
Died, in Martinez, Friday, January 13, 1899, Henry M. Hale. He
was born April 4, 1833, in Ohio, and in the late fifties came to California,
direct to Pacheco, where he entered the employ of his brother. In 1873
they came to Martinez and organized the Bank of Martinez.
April 7, 1906. — A county pioneer, Mrs. Mary E. Hale, died Sunday
evening, April 1, 1906. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, seventy-
three years ago, and crossed the plains with her father, James E. Lyon,
in the fifties. She married Henry M. Hale in 1861.
Died, in Martinez, August 20, 1883, William M. Hale, aged fifty-
one years and eleven months. Mr. Hale was born September 20, 1831,
in Ohio and came to California in 1853. In 1858 he removed to Pacheco
and carried on a business under the name of Hale & Fassett and the
Hale Brothers until 1873, when the business was closed out on the or-
ganizing of the Bank of Martinez, both brothers being large stockholders
and William becoming cashier. In 1863 he married Mary L. Lyon, and
they had a son and a daughter.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 223
Mrs. Mary E. Hall, a pioneer of 1859 in Contra Costa County,
died at her home in Alamo on February 23, 1917. She was born in
Pennsylvania and came to California and Contra Costa County in 1859,
where she had since lived. She left five children.
Myron W. Hall, the father of the walnut industry in this county, died
at San Ramon, December 16, 1910. He was born in Pennsylvania
in 1831. At the age of eighteen he came West with Lysander Stone, who
was bringing a large band of stock to California. In 1857 he came to
Contra Costa County, locating in Green Valley. In 1859 he went back East
and married Lucy E. Dorman, and returned to California with her. In
1870 Mr. Hall bought land near Alamo. In 1872 he planted the first
native walnuts, and the trees have borne ever since. Six children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Hall.
Henry M. Hallenbeck died in Martinez, November 6, 1918, aged
eighty-seven years. He was born in New York in 1831, crossed the plains
in 1851, and came direct to Martinez, where he had since lived. He left a
widow and five children.
Austin W. Hammitt, one of the pioneers of the county, died at Concord
on December 10, 1897, aged seventy-four years. He was born in Ohio,
crossed the plains with oxen to Oregon in 1849, mined for a time, and
then returned East. In 1851 he returned to Oregon as captain of a
train, and in 1857 came to Contra Costa County and located at Walnut
Creek, engaging in the mercantile business and in farming. He was
justice- of the peace from 1865 to 1867 and was elected to the Assembly
in 1873. In 1849 he married Samantha Shaffer, and they had four
children. He left a widow and three children.
F. A. Hammitt, pioneer of Contra Costa County and resident of
Lafayette and later of Concord, died at Martinez Hospital Thursday
morning, November 8, 1917. He was a native of Wisconsin, was seventy-
three years of age, and had lived in the county sixty years.
Died, in Lafayette, February 17, 1896, G. W. Hammitt, a native of
Kentucky, aged seventy-three years.
Capt. James T. Harding, one of the oldest residents of Pacheco, died
November 28, 1886. He was born in Massachusetts in 1810, and was
a resident of the county since 1858.
March 22, 1907. — Died, Hiram P. Hardy, a native of New Hamp-
shire born in 1825. In 1849 he came via the Horn to California, and in
1853 came to Contra Costa County, where he worked for Dr. Strentzel
and ranched. Mr. Hardy furnished molding sand to foundries in Cali-
fornia, Oregon and Washington for over forty years.
Died, in Port Costa, February 17, 1890, Charles Harkins, aged sixty-
nine years. Mr. Harkins was formerly a butcher in Martinez, and was
an old settler of the county.
July 4, 1925. — On Tuesday evening, June 30, Robert Harkinson
died at the family home in Antioch, aged seventy years. He was born in
Pittsburgh, Pa., came to California in 1874, and took employment with
224 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
the Bank of Dixon, with which institution he remained until 1883, when
he went to San Luis Obispo. In 1891 he moved to Antioch and was
instrumental in founding the Bank of Antioch and became its first cashier,
which position he retained continuously until 1920, when he retired from
active business. Mr. Harkinson married Alice Brinkerhoff in Dixon and
leaves one daughter, Mrs. Maude Robertson of Berkeley, his wife having
passed away several years ago. Interment will be made in Antioch.
Joel Harlan was born in Indiana in 1828, crossed the plains with his
parents in 1846, and bought land in Amador Valley in 1852; but when
Alameda County was formed, his house was one of the points defining the
boundaries of the counties, and he was left in the new county. He was
married in 1849 in Sonoma, by ex-Governor Boggs, to Minerva Fowler,
and they had nine children. He died in 1875.
Died, at Danville, May 13, 1922, Isabella MacLeod Harrison. She
was born in Washington, D. C. in 1837. She married A. B. Harrison
in 1869 and came to California in 1872, settling at Walnut Creek; in
1887 they moved to Danville, where she had since lived. She had a fam-
ily of four boys.
On June 28, 1920, John Hartz, one of the Pioneers of Contra Costa
County, died at his home in Danville. He was born in Germany in 1847.
In 1865 he landed in California and began as a ranch-hand in Alameda
County; in 1888 he bought 280 acres of James Stow. He married Cathe-
rine Johnson in 1877, and they had three children. He was treasurer
of the Odd Fellows at Danville for twenty years.
Died, in Martinez, April 3, 1909, Roswell B. Hathaway, a native
of New York. Mr. Hathaway was born in 1826 and came to California
in 1854, locating in Contra Costa County. He was a rancher, later was
in the butcher business in Pacheco and Concord, and in 1876 was elected
county treasurer, which office he held for three terms.
George W. Hawxhurst, one of the oldest and most progressive citizens
of the county, died September 2, 1890. He was a native of New York,
born in 1827; came to California in 1850, and to this county in 1855; and
with Mr. Somers located the Black Diamond claim and the Cumberland.
He also located the Union Mine.
Died, at his home in Martinez, April 7, 1897, E. W. Hiller, aged sixty-
eight years. She was born in Massachusetts in 1828; came via the Horn
to California in 1849 on the Aurora, a whaling ship; and in December,
1852, came to San Pablo, and in 1854 to Martinez. He served in an
official capacity several times, was appointed public administrator in 1872,
and held office until he was stricken with paralysis. In 1858 he married
Mary C. Burdett.
Died, February 24, 1915, in Martinez, Mrs. Agnes M. Hittman,
widow of the late Frederick Hittman, a native of Germany, aged seventy
years. She left five daughters and three sons.
October 19, 1916.- — -James Hoey, a pioneer of Martinez and secretary
of the Democratic County Central Committee over thirty years, passed
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 225
away aged sixty-three years. He was born in Ireland in 1854 and came
to America in 1870, and that same year to Martinez. He married Mary
Tormey on November 9, 1880, who survived him with three daughters.
Died, in Byron, October 12, 1899, Ferdinand F. Hoffman, aged
seventy-two years and six months. He was born in the Rhine Province in
1826 and came to America in 1847 and to California in 1850, crossing
the plains. He located in Contra Costa County in 1858 and engaged in the
tannery business. In 1861 he located on a ranch near Byron. In 1870
he married Elizabeth Nolling; and they had three children.
Died, in Martinez, July 22, 1891, William Hoffman, aged seventy
years. Mr. Hoffman was born in Prussia, June 21, 1821. He came to the
United States in 1847, and in 1849 to California via Cape Horn. He
located in Contra Costa County soon after, and in 1855 bought a residence
in Martinez and established a tannery.
After a residence of seventy-two years in Martinez, Mrs. Cornelia
Jane Hollenbeck died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R. V. Lytton, at
the age of eighty, on November 1, 1923. She was born in Iowa, came
to California in 1849 with her parents, and settled in Martinez in 1851.
She left five children.
On August 15, 1908, in the Alhambra Valley, Beverly R. Holliday
passed over the Great Divide. He was a pioneer of 1849 and the first
educator in Martinez, where he opened the first seminary in 1850. He
was born in Warren County, Ky., December 22, 1823. From 1840 to
1849 he taught school in Illinois. In March, 1849, he set out across the
plains with ox-teams, and in January of 1850 he came to Contra Costa
County. He was elected justice of the peace in 1850 and was chosen as
one of the associate judges of the Court of Sessions in 1854. In 1853
he engaged in farming, and he was a pioneer in fruit culture. In 1858 he
subscribed funds to help found the Gazette. He married Jane A. Holliday,
August 19, 1855, and left six children.
April 26, 1902. — Mrs. Miranda Hook, relict of William Hook, died
last Wednesday at her home in Ygnacio Valley. She was one of the oldest
residents of the county. She came across the plains with her husband
in 1850. In 1854 Mr. Hook bought land in Contra Costa County, and
this has been the family home ever since. She was eighty-three years old.
Dr. E. F. Hough was born in New York in 1823, graduated from
Ohio Medical College, crossed the plains in 1852 from Illinois, settled
in Ygnacio Valley in 1853, came to Martinez in 1855, and built Hough's
Hotel, which he ran for twenty-five years. He was one of the first to
discover mineral paints in this county. In 1842 he married Sibyl Marsh,
and they had two children.
Died, near Byron, May 30, 1899, R. G. Houston, a native of Ohio,
aged sixty-six years. He was born in 1833, came to California in 1852,
and two years later located in Contra Costa County. He had always
taken an active part in politics.
226 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
C. E. Howard, a pioneer of San Ramon Valley, died May 23, 1912, in
Danville. He was born in Massachusetts in 1826, came to California
in 1849, and in 1856 came to Contra Costa County.
Nathaniel S. Howard, of Walnut Creek, died Wednesday, January
25, 1899. He was born in Plymouth County, Mass., in 1819 and came
to California in 1849 via Cape Horn, on the Howard. In September, 1856,
he came to this county and bought a farm near Danville.
Benjamin Hughes died at Walnut Creek October 18, 1908, aged
eighty-three years. He was born in Illinois in 1825 and came to Calif-
ornia in 1852, crossing the plains with ox-teams and locating in Contra
Costa County on his arrival. In 1857 he bought a ranch near Walnut
Creek, where he resided until death. He married Miss Emily Seeley in
1851, and they had two children.
M. F. Hurley, aged fifty-five years, died at his Martinez home on
January 30, 1924. He was born in Massachusetts in 1868, and was
educated in Martinez, where his parents moved in 1878. In 1902 he
served a term as public administrator, and in 1907 was appointed county
recorder, which office he held until his death. He married Flora Irene
Morford in 1912. Mr. Hurley was survived by his widow and three
children.
October 3, 1925. — Mrs. Josephine Inman, widow of the late Daniel
Inman, founder of the town of Danville, and for whom that community
was named, passed away Thursday at her home near Livermore at the age
of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Inman came to the San Ramon Valley in
early days, her husband's family coming to the valley in 1846 and residing
there continuously from that time on.
M. B. Ivory was born in Pennsylvania in 1831 ; came to California in
1858, and located in Green Valley; was elected sheriff in 1871 ; and was
reelected in 1874.
November 27, 1923. — Clark Jaquith, for fifty years a resident and
business man of Concord, died at the age of seventy-five years. He was
a native of Canada. He is survived by a son and a daughter.
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson died on May 22, 1910, at her home. She
was born in England, and came with her mother, Mrs. Vaughn, to Amer-
ica. She married Thaddeus Johnson in 1856. They settled near Walnut
Creek, where Mr. Johnson farmed. In 1890 they moved to Martinez,
and here Mr. Johnson died in 1895.
Sampson W. Johnson was born in Virginia in 1828. He started for
Oregon in 1846; but at the Sink of the Humboldt he changed his mind and
came to California, joined Fremont, and remained till 1847. In 1859 he
came to this county and established a livery business in Martinez. In 1850
he married Annie McClellan, and they had four children.
December 1, 1912. — The oldest woman voter in Contra Costa County,
Mrs. Catherine Williams Jones, one of the pioneers of California and the
county, died on November 30. She was born in Wales in 1821, and
came to New York in 1849 with her parents. She married John N.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 227
Jones, who died in 1910. They had been residents of California about
fifty years and of Nortonville since the early seventies.
Elizabeth C. (Allen) Jones, wife of Nathaniel Jones, died at Crockett
on January 19, 1907. She was born in Missouri and married Mr. Jones
in 1842. They came West in 1846, and in 1847 to Contra Costa County,
and settled on a part of the Alcalanes ranch. Mrs. Jones was eighty-
four years old at the time of her death.
John N. Jones died at Nortonville, Saturday night, August 6, 1910.
He was born in Wales in 1819, and came to America in 1848. He was
married in Philadelphia in 1849 to Catherine Williams, who came from
Wales to join him. About fifty years prior to his death they came West,
and about two years later moved to Nortonville. Mr. Jones was ninety-
one years old at the time of his death.
On May 12, 1905, John W. Jones, a pioneer resident of the county,
died at the age of eighty-three years. He was born in Kentucky in 1822;
in 1853 he crossed the plains with ox-teams to California, coming to La-
fayette on his arrival here. In 1855 he bought a ranch, upon which he
lived until he moved to Martinez. He had one son, Henry T. Jones.
January 13, 1900. — Joseph P. Jones, who served on the bench as
superior judge in Contra Costa County for thirteen years, was buried last
Friday. He was born in Indiana in 1844, and accompanied his parents
to Oregon in 1853. In 1865 he returned to Indiana and entered the
University of Bloomington, graduating in law in 1867. He came to Mar-
tinez in 1869; was elected district attorney in 1873, serving two years;
and then served in the legislature. In 1886 he was elected superior judge.
He was a prominent Mason.
Mrs. Mary A. Jones died on July 23, 1918, at her home in Alamo,
aged ninety-three years. She was born in Tennessee in 1825, and came to
California before the days of the gold rush, via the Oregon route, reach-
ing Napa on November 10, 1846. She moved to San Jose in 1847, and
in 1851 came to San Ramon Valley, where she had since made her home.
The death of Nathaniel Jones, who had been a resident of the county
since 1847, occurred on January 31, 1899, at Walnut Creek. He was
born in Eastern Tennessee in 1820. He moved to Missouri and in 1842
married Elizabeth C. Allen. In 1846, with fifteen or twenty others and
their families, he crossed the plains, bound for Oregon, but changed his
course and came to California, arriving here November 2, 1846. He
served in the battle of Santa Clara under Capt. Julius Martin. He settled
in this county in 1847. His was the first wagon to cross Carquinez
Straits on Dr. Semple's ferry propelled by oars. At his death he was sev-
enty-nine years of age.
Martin Joost, last of the pioneer Joost family, died at his Vine Hill
home Sunday, November 11, 1917, aged seventy-four years. He was born
in Germany, and came to California in the pioneer days. For eighteen
years before his death he made his home with his sister.
228 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
February 27, 1926. — -Infirmities due to advanced age closed the long
life of Mrs. Mary Jane Joselin at her home at Antioch, Friday night.
She was eighty-five years old and had resided in Antioch for fifty-nine
years. She was born at Middle Point, Wis.
June 27, 1925. — The last of the old '49ers in Contra Costa County,
and one of the best-known and most highly respected pioneers of Central
California, passed on to his reward Saturday evening at 8 o'clock when
John Henry Keller of Concord succumbed to an attack of the heart.
While members of the family realized that his passing might come at any
time, on account of his advanced age, Mr. Keller's death was sudden and
came as a shock to his sons and daughters and legion of friends through-
out the county.
John H. Keller was a pioneer of California and a '49er in every sense
of the term. Born in New Albany, Ind., July 2, 1844, he would have
reached the advanced age of four score and one in another ten days.
When a boy of five years he crossed the plains to California with his par-
ents, a journey which took seven months and brought the family to Marys-
ville in the fall of 1849. There they settled and resided for many years
when Mr. Keller was growing to manhood. As a young man he joined
that collection of fearless and intrepid men who, made early-day history,
as a Pony Express Rider.
Fifty-four years ago Mr. Keller came to Contra Costa County, and
for more than a half century has resided in or near Concord and the Clay-
ton Valley. He engaged in the butcher business, following that pur-
suit until his retirement a few years ago. He was one of the guests of
honor at the '49 celebration held in Sacramento recently, and with the
passing recently of Charles Lohse of Ygnacio Valley, Mr. Keller was left
the sole surviving member of the hardy '49ers in Contra Costa County.
Now he too has passed on.
Nine daughters and sons mourn the passing of their pioneer father,
the wife and helpmate of the years, Mrs. Celestia Keller, having died a
little over a year ago. The funeral will be held in Concord Tuesday.
Burial at Clayton.
Mrs. Harriet Baird Kellogg, a resident of Martinez for many years,
died at the home of her daughter, May 15, 1918, aged eighty-two years.
She was born in Pennsylvania in 1836, came to California in 1887, and for
several years was president of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of
San Diego. She came to Martinez in 1899.
Died, at Vine Hill, April 30, 1910, James Kelly, aged seventy-three
years. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1837, and came to the United
States in 1847 with his father, and in 1854 came to California, crossing
the plains with his brother Samuel. Arriving in Contra Costa County,
the brothers engaged in the dairy business at Pinole. In 1864 James
Kelly went back to Wisconsin and married Margaret Dowd, and in 1887
he bought a ranch near Martinez. He served as supervisor from 1887 to
1891.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 229
Capt. George W. Kimball, one of the Forty-niners of Antioch, died
November 18, 1879. He had been a resident of Antioch since his arrival
as captain of a ship built in Maine, of which State he was a native, born
in 1806.
Died, at his home near Clayton, January 7, 1918, Nicholas Kirk-
wood, aged eighty-seven years. He was born in Scotland and came to
California via the Horn in 1852, and to this county in 1857. He had
never married.
On April 9, 1921, W. A. Kirkwood, former superintendent of schools
of Contra Costa County, died in Oakland, aged sixty-three years. He
left a widow, one son and three daughters.
March 5, 1926. — Concord, March 2. Charles W. Klein, prominent
business man and resident of Concord for many years, and mayor of this
city for a number of years, passed away at his home this morning. He
was born and reared in this valley and was one of the successful and sub-
stantial citizens. He was about fifty-three years of age. He leaves a
widow and two daughters.
John C. Kouse was born in New York in 1828; came via Panama in
1853; and in 1861 located in this county, where he mined, ran a hotel, and
engaged in the lumber business. He died in 1907.
November 8, 1923. — E. R. Lamb, for forty-three years a resident of
Ygnacio Valley, passed away at the age of seventy-five years. He was
born in Connecticut, came to California via Panama when he was twenty-
one years of age, locating in Napa County for a short time, and then
came to Contra Costa County. A widow and two children survive him.
Mrs. M. B. Lander, one of the best-known and most highly respected
women of Martinez, died on December 10, 1903. She was born in
Illinois and came to this county very early. She was sixty-five years of age.
October 15, 1921. — B. P. Lanteri, owner of the Lanteri Shipyards at
Pittsburg and ex-mayor, met death by drowning on October 9, while re-
turning from a duck-hunt. He was riding in the bow of his launch, which
was operated by William Whitlied, and as they approached Dutton's
Landing a cable used in drawing a barge was suspended, and as the
launch passed underneath it it caught Mr. Lanteri and hurled him into
the stream. He was killed by the blow from the cable. He was thirty-
eight years old.
Died, near Walnut Creek, August 4, 1891, John Larkey, aged sixty
years. He was born in Ohio in 1831, came to California across the plains
with horse teams in 1853, and in 1857 located on his 730-acre ranch near
Walnut Creek and engaged in farming. In 1864 he married Martha E.
Spore, and they had six children.
May 29, 1923. — Judge R. H. Latimer passed away after being strick-
en with paralysis while trying a case in his chambers. He was born in
Missouri in 1854 and came to California in 1879, locating in Concord.
Later he moved to Walnut Creek and engaged in the drug business, dur-
ing which time he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1884. In
230 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
1886 he moved to Martinez and engaged in the practice of law, and in
1909 he was elected superior judge. He was survived by his widow.
Judge Latimer was a member of the Masonic lodge.
December 13, 1924. — Charles H. Lohse, pioneer of Contra Costa
County, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. H. C. Thomas, in Oak-
land. He was over the century mark, having celebrated his 100th anni-
versary on April 27, 1924. He came to Ygnacio Valley over fifty years ago.
Died, January 5, 1915, Henry Loring, pioneer of Contra Costa Coun-
ty, first hotel-keeper of Pacheco, and builder of the first hotel in Concord.
He was born in Germany, and came to Contra Costa County in 1852. He
was eighty-one years of age.
George P. Loucks was born in New York in 1819; married Ann Lie-
bre in 1841, and had four children; came to California in 1851, and in
1857 located in Contra Costa County, where he engaged in farming and
warehousing. He served as county clerk and as supervisor.
Peter G. Loucks, pioneer of Pacheco, died at the home of his son in
Sonoma, July 4, 1917, aged seventy-three years.
October 1, 1921. — After being a resident in California for seventy-
five years, J. G. Lucas passed away at Richmond at the age of ninety-
three years. He was born in the Azores. When eighteen years of age
he went to sea and made his first visit to California, in 1846, on the sailer
Magnet; he returned in 1850, and in 1863 bought land of the old San
Pablo Grant.
June 30, 1921. — C. H. Ludden, a pioneer of 1876, died at the age
of sixty-seven years. He was born in Massachusetts and engaged in the
contracting business. He is survived by a widow, one daughter, and
three sons.
Mrs. Mary Lynch, a resident of Contra Costa County for sixty years
and owner of one of the largest ranches in the San Ramon Valley, died
at her home December 26, 1915, aged seventy-eight years.
William Lynch died on August 28, 1910, at his home in San Ramon
Valley, aged eighty-two years. He was born on Long Island in 1828,
and came to California in 1849, and in 1850 to Contra Costa County,
where he worked at the carpenter's trade and at farming.
September 16, 1899. — The funeral of the late Joseph McCabe, who
died in Oakland, was held at Brentwood on September 2, 1899. He came
to California in his early boyhood, crossing the plains. He left a wife
and three children.
Thomas McCabe was born in Ohio in 1810, crossed the plains in 1850
as captain of a train, located in this county in 1865, and died in 1910.
Died, July 8, 1915, at Walnut Creek, Daniel McCullough, aged sev-
enty-three years.
Thursday evening, October 17, 1901, James McDermott, an old and
highly respected resident of Somersville, was struck and killed by the
east-bound train at Martinez. He had come down to attend the funeral
of his friend, James Rankin.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 231
William P. McGuire, one of the pioneers of the county, died Monday,
December 28, 1914, aged eighty-one years. He was born in Kentucky and
came to California in the early days. He left a widow, Mrs. Sarah Mc-
Guire, and seven children.
James McKenna died at his home at Vine Hill, April 8, 1913, aged
sixty-five years. He was born in Ireland in 1848 and had been a resident
of the county thirty years.
T. A. McMahon, well-known county official and business man of Mar-
tinez, died on April 28, 1914. He was born in this county in 1856, and
was educated in the Martinez grammar school and in the University of
California. He served sixteen years as county surveyor. In 1890 he
was elected mayor, and served for six years.
Job C. McMaster was born in Maine in 1822, came to California on
the brig Forest in 1849, located where Antioch stands in 1851, and with
W. W. Smith laid out the town of Antioch. He was one of the first
to engage in the dairy business, and in 1852 organized a company to
make brick. In 1853 he was elected supervisor, and again in 1873.
George W. McNear, the grain king, who had large warehouse in-
terests in this county, died in Oakland December 31, 1909, aged seventy-
two years. He was the owner of a large part of Port Costa and built
and owned the Port Costa Water Works.
December 16, 1922. — J. J. McNamara, ex-mayor, the moving spirit
of the Martinez-Benicia Ferry & Transportation Company, and an active
spirit in the development and progress of Martinez, died at his home at
the age of fifty-five years. He was born here and engaged in the mercan-
tile business for a number of years. He left a wife and two daughters.
Died, on August 16, 1913, Mrs. Mary McNamara, a native of County
Louth, Ireland, aged sixty-five years.
December 31, 1904. — On Monday, D. R. McPherson, a pioneer of
the county, where he lived for over fifty years, passed away at Walnut
Creek. He was a native of Kentucky and crossed the plains in 1849. He
leaves eleven children, four sons and seven daughters.
W. A. Maltby, a capitalist of Concord, died November 29, 1919.
On May 7, 1922, at his home in Martinez, O. L. Marsh died at the
age of eighty-one years. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1841, and
served in the Civil War with the 105th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In 1876
he came to Martinez and followed the carpenter's trade. He left a widow
and three children.
April 19, 1924. — Mrs. Elizabeth O. Marshall died, aged seventy-
five years, at Antioch. She was born in Maine in 1849, married Perry
Marshall in 1869, came to California in 1875, and since then has resided
in Antioch. She leaves three children.
Died, in Martinez, February 16, 1894, Vicente Martinez, a native
of California, aged seventy-five years. He was born in Santa Barbara in
1818, and in 1838 came with his father to Contra Costa County, the lat-
ter having been granted the Pinole Rancho. In 1 849 he came to Martinez.
232 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
March 13, 1926.— Walnut Creek, March 11. Vicente Martinez,
scion of one of the oldest families in the county, the county seat being
named for his father, died last night at 10 o'clock. He was born at Pinole
seventy-two years ago.
June 17, 1916.- — L. R. Mead, thirty-five years owner of Byron Hot
Springs, died in San Francisco, aged sixty-eight years. He was born in
Michigan and came to California in 1860. In 1881 he bought Byron
Hot Springs.
Died, at San Ramon, May 27, 1899, William Meese, a native of Ohio,
aged seventy-four years, nine months and twenty-five days. He was born
in 1824. In 1850, with eight others, he came by pack-mules to California;
and in 1852 he located in Contra Costa County, in the San Ramon Valley.
He married and raised a family.
Felix J. Mette, retired mining man and operator of the first stage line
between Martinez and Oakland in the early days, died in Oakland on
May 6, 1912, aged eighty-three years.
December 12, 1925. — On Monday death claimed Mrs. Isabella Mills,
ninety-three years old. The third white woman to settle in San Pablo, she
came from Michigan in 1857 and was one of the earliest settlers to develop
the soil in the San Pablo section. She was the widow of Walter Mills, and
is survived by four generations of descendants, all of whom were born,
reared and educated in Contra Costa County.
January, 1921. — Died, near Clayton, Isaac Mitchell, aged ninety-two
years. He came here in 1849. Mitchell Canyon, at the base of Mount
Diablo, is named for him.
The pioneer editor of Contra Costa County, Charles F. Montgomery,
of the Antioch Ledger, died in that town on February 17, 1899. He was
the oldest male white child born in Shasta County, his birth taking place
on April 24, 1851. He learned the printer's trade in Chico when sixteen
years of age, and came to Antioch in 1884 and revived the Ledger. He
served as justice of the peace and as secretary of the Democratic con-
vention at San Francisco that nominated J. H. Budd for Governor. He
was a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Masons, Odd Fel-
lows, and the California Press Association.
April 16, 1921. — At ten o'clock Saturday morning, Edwin Morgan,
a pioneer merchant of Contra Costa County, died at his home in Martinez,
aged seventy-one years. He was born in Texas in 1850, came overland in
the sixties, located in Ygnacio Valley, and in 1870 came to Martinez,
where he opened a hardware store. He left six children. Mr. Morgan
was an Odd Fellow.
Died, in Martinez, June 2, 1884, Elizabeth Morgan, widow of Daniel
Morgan, a native of County Louth, Ireland, aged seventy-eight years,
two months and three days.
Jeremiah Morgan died on January 23, 1906. Jerry, as he was fa-
miliarly known, was born in the Cherokee Nation, Alabama, in 1819,
but later became a resident of Illinois. In 1849 he crossed the plains with
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 233
oxen to California. He returned to his Illinois home and again crossed
the plains in 1853 and located in Ygnacio Valley. In 1856 he located in
what is known as Morgan Territory, where he had 2000 acres of land.
Watkins P. Morgans was born in Wales in 1842, came via Panama
in 1864, and in 1868 located at Nortonville.
Died, in Brentwood, May 4, 1895, Dr. H. V. Mott, a native of New
York, aged seventy-three years. He was born in 1822, came to California
in 1850, and settled in Contra Costa County in 1866, where he followed
his profession until his death.
John Muir, the world-famed naturalist, was buried from his Alham-
bra Valley home at Muir Heights, Contra Costa County, on Sunday, De-
cember 27, 1914. The short, simple but impressive sermon was delivered
by Rev. William F. Bade. Mr. Muir's principal books arc "The Moun-
tains of California," "Our National Parks," "Stricken," "The Story
of a Dog," "My First Summer in the Sierras," and "The Yosemite." He
was an enthusiastic writer and speaker on the preservation of American
forests. In 1880 he married Louise, daughter of Dr. Strentzel, who owned
a large tract of land near Martinez. It was on this ranch that Mr. Muir
lived the last thirty years of his life. He was born in Dunbar, Scotland,
in 1838.
Dr. F. E. Neff, for thirty-two years a physician of Concord, and well-
known throughout central Contra Costa County, was instantly killed at
seven p. m., June 18, 1923, at Minert Station in Ygnacio Valley. He was
riding alonein a Chevrolet coupe, and as he was crossing the electric track
his car was hit by the Sacramento-San Francisco flier. He was born in
Pennsylvania in 1862, and in 1896 married Miss Anna Williams who sur-
vived him. He also left five sons and one daughter.
June 18, 1921. — At the advanced age of eighty-eight years, John S.
Netherton died in Santa Cruz. He was born in Missouri, April 30, 1833,
crossed the plains in 1850 with oxen and mined for a time, then came to
Contra Costa County and settled down to ranching in the Tice Valley in
Point of Timber. He was the third settler east of Mount Diablo and
west of Stockton, the other two being A. Richardson and C. J. Preston.
In 1859 he married Matilda Estes, and they had nine children.
Mrs. Matilda Netherton, one of the pioneer residents of the Byron
district, died at the home of her son Delbert, October 30, 1912. She
was born in Missouri in 1839, crossed the plains in 1850 with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Joel Estes, and settled in Moraga Valley. In 1859 she
married J. S. Netherton, and they moved to Point of Timber, where they
lived for fifty years. They celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in
1909. She left five sons and her husband.
John Nicholl, one of the founders of Richmond, died in the fall of
1914 at the age of ninety-one years. He was born in 1822 in Ireland
and came to America in 1849, and to California in 1853. He accumulated
$6000, with which he bought 200 acres of the San Pablo Rancho, and
later added several hundred acres more. He started the first school in
234 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
his district and hauled the lumber for it. He left a fortune of between
$3,000,000 and $4,000,000.
Howard Nichols was born in Massachusetts in 1799; came to Cali-
fornia in 1849 via the Horn in the ship Oscar, of which he was part owner;
settled at New York of the Pacific in 1850, and bought a ranch at Mount
Diablo in 1852. In his house was established the first Congregational
congregation in the district.
John R. Nystrom, founder of Richmond and a pioneer of Contra Cos-
ta County, died December 24, 1913, just as he was declared winner of an
important lawsuit. He; was born in Finland, and was sixty-five years of
age. He came here in 1871 and settled near Stege, and began to build up
a fortune. He acquired land, now the present site of Richmond, and
when the town was founded began to sell off his property.
Died, in Antioch, November 4, 1885, John C. O'Brien, a native of
Ireland, aged sixty-three years, nine months and twenty-nine days. Mr.
O'Brien had been a prominent resident of the county thirty-two years. He
was born January 6, 1822, came to California in 1849, and in 1853 came
to this county. He was a member of the Odd Fellows and Masons.
James O'Hara, a pioneer of the Sand Lands district, died in Oakley
on September 8, 1912, aged seventy-two years. He was born in Maine
and came to California when young, and later to Contra Costa County.
Died, at Concord, May 11, 1884, Fernando Pacheco, a native of
California, aged sixty-five years, eleven months and nineteen days. He
was a son of Don Salvio Pacheco, who died in August, 18?6, and who
had filled every position of trust, except that of Governor, under the Mex-
ican government.
At his home in Ygnacio Valley, October 8, 1907, H. P. Penniman
died aged eighty-three years. He was one of the earliest settlers in the
Valley, coming in 1852. He left a wife and three children.
Charles Bruce Porter, for many years a resident of this county, and
for seventeen years one of the publishers and the chief editor of the
Gazette, died in San Francisco on November 15, 1894, aged seventy-seven
years. He was born in Massachusetts in 1817 and came to California in
1849, and to this county in 1855. He served in the Assembly in 1860,
and was also elected to the Senate. He left a widow and six children.
Henry Raap, born in Germany in 1830, died July 3, 1914, at the resi-
dence of his daughter, Mrs. V. Hook. Mr. Rapp came to America in
1851, and to California via Nicaragua in 1854. In 1862 he went back
to Germany and married Marie Magdalene Classen. Four sons and one
daughter were born to them. They settled in Alhambra Valley very early.
In 1863 he bought a farm near Martinez.
Peter Raap, for fifty years a resident of Alhambra Valley, was found
dead in his bed Sunday morning, October 12, 1919. He was born in Ger-
many and was seventy-six years of age. In 1866 he came to California,
and settled in Alhambra Valley.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 235
F. Rahmstorf, for over forty years a resident of the Byron district,
died April 27, 1918, aged seventy-eight years. He was born in Germany.
He was a member of the Odd Fellows for forty-five years.
S. F. Ramage was born in Ohio in 1836; he came via Panama in 1856
and located in this county, where he ranched and teamed and served as
justice of the peace. He was married twice and had five children.
Died, at Lane Hospital, San Francisco, October 15, 1901, James
Rankin, a native of Scotland, aged fifty-three years. Mr. Rankin was
born in 1848, came to America in 1865, and arrived in Contra Costa
County in 1870, where he made his home. He was elected sheriff in 1884
and served two terms. Then he was interested in coal mining at Somers-
ville. In 1899 he was elected president of the Bank of Martinez. He
was a Mason.
Dr. Frank Rattan, a pioneer physician of Antioch and Martinez, died
January 3, 1917. He practiced in Antioch twelve years and then came
to Martinez, where he bought the W. K. Cole drug business. He was
fifty-six years of age at the time of his death.
Died, December 27, 1904, at Alamo, Hamilton S. Raven, sixty-five
years of age. He was born in New York and reared in Michigan. Com-
ing to California, he taught school for thirty years, twenty-five years in
Contra Costa County, near Walnut Creek. In 1870 he married Almira
Baker, who died in 1891. They had five sons and one daughter.
Charles Rhine was born in Poland in 1838 ; came via Panama in 1856 ;
located in this county in 1857; opened a store near what is now Clayton
in 1858; and in 1859 was one of the first to open up a business in Clay-
ton, in partnership with Joel Clayton. In 1868 he married Celia Lobree,
and they had eight children.-
William Rice, a pioneer of 1860 of the county, passed away near Wal-
nut Creek November 6, 1885, aged seventy-one years. In 1862 he built a
schoolhouse and opened a private family school on his place.
Died, May 17, 1915, at Pleasant Hill, E. A. Rodgers, one of the
oldest residents of the district, who came to California in 1859 and had
lived on his ranch for forty-five years. He was born in Ireland and was
seventy-six years of age. He left four children and a widow.
C. W. Rogers, former sheriff of Contra Costa County and constable
of Walnut Creek, died at his Martinez home on February 21, 1912, at
the age of fifty-nine years. He was born in Amador County in 1853. In
1874 he married Martha Leich. He was a member of the Native Sons
and the Woodmen.
Died, in Walnut Creek, April 5, 1897, Mrs. E. J. Rogers, aged fifty-
nine years, eleven months and twenty-five days.
On November 16", 1907, at Berkeley, John C. Rouse, a pioneer of
California, passed away. He was born in New York in 1828; in 1853
he came to California, and in 1861 to Contra Costa County as foreman
236 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
of the Pittsburg Coal Mine. He continued the mining business as owner
for many years, and also was identified with the lumber and banking in-
terests of Antioch. He was a Mason.
July 28, 1917. — Mrs. W. A. Rugg, wife of the editor and proprietor
of the Gazette, passed away at their home in Martinez Saturday evening,
aged fifty-three years. As Jessie Baird Kellogg, she was born in Wiscon-
sin in 1864. She married W. A. Rugg in Missouri in December, 1882.
Coming to California in 1887, they located in San Diego; in 1898 they
came to Martinez. One daughter survived her besides her husband.
Died, in Martinez, June 16, 1894, Mrs. Nancy Russell, relict of Capt.
Thomas Russell, a native of Massachusetts, aged ninety-five years. Mrs.
Russell was born in 1799. She came with her husband to California in
1849 ; later they bought a ranch in Ygnacio Valley. For many years Mrs.
Russell made her home in Martinez.
George Russi, Sr., prominent mill owner and manufacturer, owner of
the Pacheco Flour Mill, died at Pacheco November 12, 1910. He was
born in Switzerland in 1854, and came to California about 1880, and
started the Pacheco Flour Mills. He left a widow and five children.
September 19, 1925. — One of the foremost real estate operators in
Central California, one who of late years has been active in Martinez
and who was one of the men who founded the city of Richmond, passed
to his final rest Sunday morning when W. H. Sanford breathed his last
at his home in Martinez. He was a native of Tennessee, aged sixty-five
years. He leaves a widow, Jennie E. Sanford, and was the father of Mrs.
Grace Hansel and Mrs. Era Holmes of Oakland, W. H. Sanford Jr. of
San Francisco, and Miss Hazel Sanford of Martinez.
Died, in Port Costa, March 14, 1891, George H. Scammon, aged
fifty-seven years. He was born in Maine, came to California in 1859, and
made his home in Walnut Creek. He then moved to Nortonville, remain-
ing there until the decline of coal mining, when he moved to Port Costa.
He was serving his second term as public administrator at the time of his
death. He was a member of the Odd Fellows.
Died, March 17, 1915, at Brentwood, William Shafer, a native of
Pennsylvania, aged seventy-nine years. For over fifty years he had been
a resident of Brentwood, where he engaged in farming. He left a widow,
three daughters and two sons.
Died, April 7, 1906, Albert Sherburne, aged seventy-three years. He
was a native of New York, a pioneer of 1852 in California, whither he
came via the Isthmus, and located in Contra Costa County in 1856.
Died, near Danville, August 19, 1897, David N. Sherburne, a native
of New York, aged seventy-five years. He was born October 14, 1822,
went to Illinois when twelve years old, and in 1850 crossed the plains
on horseback and arrived at Placerville on August '26. He mined until
1856 and then came to Contra Costa County, locating near Danville. In
1856 he was elected supervisor, and filled the office four terms. In 1879
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 237
he was elected to the legislature, and in 1880 he was again elected
supervisor.
Benjamin Shreve was born in Pennsylvania in 1828, crossed the plains
in 1852, and in 1853 engaged in business and ran a hotel in this county.
In 1857 he petitioned Congress to establish a postoffice at his place, which
was named Lafayette, and he was the postmaster.
Charles Sickal, a native of Kentucky and for sixty years a resident of
Martinez, having crossed the plains with oxen in 1855, died at his home
on April 24, 1918, aged eighty-two years.
December 12, 1925.- — C. A. Smith, seventy-three, president of the
Coos Bay Lumber Company at Bay Point and one of the most prominent
lumber men in the West, died at his home in Berkeley. Smith moved to
the Pacific Coast from Minnesota in 1884. He founded the C. A. Smith
Lumber Company, now the Coos Bay Lumber Company, owned lumber
properties in Humboldt County and Southern Oregon and had large mills
at Marshfield, Ore., and Bay Point, Cal., the latter one of the most com-
plete in the world.
Died, in Martinez, October 18, 1895, John B. Smith, a native of New
Bedford, Mass., aged fifty-six years. He came to California when thir-
teen years of age, in 1852, and the next year came to Martinez, which
had since been his home. He was justice of the peace several years.
John F. S. Smith was born in Georgia in 1821 ; served under Col. Jack
Hays in the Indian troubles, and later in the Mexican War; came in 1850
via Panama to California and to Martinez, where his brother had laid
out the town; settled on Bull Head Ranch in 1852; and in 1853 was elect-
ed sheriff. He also served as assessor.
Napoleon B. Smith was born in Ohio in 1818; crossed the plains with
his brother, Henry C, in 1845, being piloted by L. W. Hastings to Fort
Laramie, and from there by Captain Bridger through the Indian country;
engaged in business in Martinez in 1849; was elected first county assessor;
and in 1852 was elected to and served in the legislature. He was a mem-
ber of the Bear Flag party and participated in the events of June 14,
1846, and was a farmer in the Alhambra district. Francis M. Smith, his
son, supposed to be the first American male child born in Contra Costa
County, was born on January 25, 1848.
Rev. W. W. and Rev. Joseph H. Smith came to California via the
Horn in 1849 on the brig Forest, and to New York of the Pacific on July
1 1 of that year as carpenters. W. W. Smith entered the ministry of the
Christian Church in 1840. He was the first appointed Alcalde of New
York of the Pacific, and gave the name Antioch to the town, which had
been called Smith's Landing after him. W. W. Smith died on October 16,
1899, at the age of eighty-seven years. Joseph H. Smith died in 1850.
June 26, 1916. — A. J. Soto died at his Martinez home on Court
Street. He was born on San Miguel Rancho in 1858, graduated from St.
Mary's College in 1882, was elected county auditor, and with the excep-
238 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
tion of two years held that office until 1907. He was assistant district
attorney and inheritance tax appraiser. He left a widow and two girls.
September 5, 1903. — James Stewart, a resident of Contra Costa Coun-
ty since 1856, died last Monday. He was born in Ireland in 1825 and
came to America in 1847, and in 1853 to California, crossing the plains.
He farmed in Rodeo Valley until 1879, and then came to Martinez and
engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Mrs. J. M. Stow, a pioneer resident of Walnut Creek, died on July
29, 1910. Her maiden name was Alice Glass. She was born in Walnut
Creek, and in 1873 married J. M. Stow.
James M. Stow, pioneer capitalist and public-spirited citizen of Con-
tra Costa County, died on August 17, 1919, in San Diego. He was born
in Illinois in 1847, and came with his mother to California in 1850, via
Panama, to join his father in California. In 1860, after the death of his
father, the family settled in Contra Costa County, and from his twelfth
year young Stow was reared in this county. In 1873 he opened a store
in Walnut Creek. In 1880 he was elected county assessor, and served
seven years. He was one of the chief promoters of the first telephone
company, which came into existence in 1881. He was the owner and
proprietor of the Martinez Gazette and vice-president of the Bank of
Martinez. He built the Contra Costa part of the Oakland and Contra
Costa County tunnel. He was agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Com-
pany, and the holder of Alhambra Springs. Mr. Stow was a Mason and a
Methodist.
Died, on September 24, 1897, in Alhambra Valley, where she had
been a resident since 1853, Mrs. L. E. Strentzel, aged seventy-six years.
Died, at his home in Alhambra Valley, October 31, 1890, Dr. John
T. Strentzel, aged seventy-seven years, a native of Lieben, Poland.
Died, in Martinez, February 7, 1884, Eliza Reddell Sturgis, wife
of Josiah Sturgis, aged sixty-four years and nine months, a native of Nan-
tucket, Mass. "She was one of the pioneer women of 1857, who, with her
children, joined her husband on the Coast."
John Sturgis died April 22, 1886, aged seventy-nine years. He was
known as "Uncle John" and was one of the earliest settlers of Martinez,
having come here in 1850.
January 15, 1910. — Mrs. Elizabeth (Lawrence) Swain, the last of
the earliest English-speaking residents of Martinez, passed away Satur-
day evening at her home. Elizabeth Lawrence was born on the Island
of Nantucket in 1839. At the age of twelve she left with her mother to
join the husband and father in California, coming via the Nicaragua
route. The steamship North America, on which they were passengers,
was wrecked and they were detained a month at San Juan del Sur, at
which point they were picked up by a vessel and brought around the Horn,
arriving at San Francisco July 7, 1852. George A. Lawrence had locat-
ed in Martinez, and the daughter and wife came here. Mrs. Swain had
lived here fifty-eight years.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 239
On August 22, 1913, John Swett, a pioneer educator of California,
died at the age of eighty-three years, at his Alhambra home, "Hill Girt."
He was the founder of the State school system, a teacher, author, pioneer
educator, and most highly respected citizen. He was born in New Hamp-
shire July 31, 1830, and began teaching when seventeen years of age. He
came via the Horn to California and was 135 days on the water, arriving
here in 1853. He mined for* a time and then returned to San Francisco
and began teaching. In 1853 he became principal of the Rincon School,
and remained there until 1862. One of the first graduates of the Uni-
versity of California was one of Swett's pupils at Rincon. Mr. Swett
served as State superintendent of public instruction from 1863 to 1867, and
then again took up teaching, holding fine positions in San Francisco and
later in Contra Costa County.
Mrs. Mary L. Swett, relict of the distinguished educator, John Swett,
died November 14, 1919, at her Alhambra Valley home in her eightieth
year. She was the daughter of Judge E. P. Tracy, who drafted the plat-
form on which Abraham Lincoln was first elected to the Presidency. She
began teaching in San Francisco at the age of eighteen. She was born
in 1839 in Connecticut and in 1854 came to California via Panama with
her parents. She married John Swett in 1862, and they had seven chil-
dren, four of whom grew up.
February 27, 1926. — John Tarpley died at the local hospital Mon-
day morning, aged seventy-eight years. He had resided in San Ramon
many years and leaves a son there.
Gabriel Tarwater, a pioneer of Contra Costa County, died at his home
in Ygnacio Valley, Saturday afternoon, November 9, 1912, aged eighty-
three years. He was born in Missouri, came to California in 1849, and
had resided here sixty years. He left a widow and four children.
January 16, 1926. — For seventy years a resident of Contra Costa
County, and having approached to within three years of the century
mark, Mrs. Martha J. Tarwater, one of the few remaining pioneers of
the early fifties, breathed her last at her Ygnacio Valley home, where
she had lived for half a century. Mrs. Tarwater was born in Missouri
and came to California in 1852. With the exception of four years, 1852
to 1856, she had lived in Ygnacio Valley.
Alex Taylor came to California in 1868, and located at Point of
Timber. He died in 1912.
On August 25, 1923, at 5 :30 p.m., Volney Taylor passed away at his
home in eastern Contra Costa County. He was born in Canada in 1851
and came to California with his parents. In 1878 he married Agnes E.
Andrew. In 1868 he moved to his place in eastern Contra Costa County
and built a fine country home, and here he accumulated a fortune. He
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for thirty years
had been a trustee of the Good Templars' Home at Vallejo.
Died, in Martinez, September 30, 1858, Archibald Tennent, Sr.,
aged seventy years.
240 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Died, near Pinole, August 16, 1886, Dr. S. J. Tennent, M. D., a na-
tive of England, aged sixty-eight years. Dr. Tennent had practiced in
the Sandwich Islands. He was a California pioneer of the first mining
days, in 1848, and had settled at Pinole soon after, where he farmed the
Pinole Ranch. In 1849 he married Rafaela Martinez, and they had ten
children.
Died, at Providence Hospital, Oakland, March 20, 1915, Mrs. An-
genette Thompson, a pioneer of Lafayette, where she had lived for fifty-
nine years. Mrs. Thompson was sixty-eight years of age. She married
Peter Thompson on March 23, 1862. She left three sons and three
daughters.
Peter Thompson died on July 31, 1914, aged seventy-six years. He
was born in Canada in 1837, came to California in 1859, and located
soon after at Lafayette, where he continued to reside until his death.
March 27, 1926. — A pioneer matron of Contra Costa County, Mrs.
Charlotte Thompson, of the Lafayette section for many years, passed
away at an Oakland hospital on Monday. She was a native of California
and was seventy-two years of age. Mrs. Thompson was the wife of
Robert Thompson, roadmaster of the Lafayette section.
January 5, 1924. — The death of W. S. Tinning occurred at his home
in Martinez shortly after midnight, at the age of seventy-two years. He
was born in New York in 1852 and when a young man came to California
and Martinez. From 1885 to 1893 he was district attorney. On January
13, 1902, he was made vice-president of the Bank of Martinez, and he
succeeded James Rankin as president. He is survived by his wife, Mrs.
Miriam Porter Tinning, and six children.
The death of John Tormey of Bay Point occurred at St. Francis Hos-
pital, San Francisco, in 1908. He had been a resident here for thirty-five
years. He was a native of Ireland and was fifty-four years of age at the
time of his death. He left a wife and three children.
January 25, 1890. — The funeral of General M. G. Vallejo, last
Thursday, was largely attended.
February 26, 1908, Mrs. R. R. Veale passed away in Martinez. She
was born in San Francisco in 1865 and was married in 1884. She left
six children.
Died, at Brentwood, June 5, 1886, Richard R. Veale, a native of Illi-
nois, aged forty-seven years and eleven months. Mr. Veale had been a
resident of the county since 1868, when he located in Eden Plain, and of
California since 1857, when he came to this State via Panama. In 1880
he married Malinda Sexton.
John Tormey was born in Ireland in 1825, crossed the plains in 1850
with oxen, and in 1865 located in this county and bought an interest in
the Pinole Grant in partnership with his brother Patrick. He served as
supervisor from Township No. 1 for years. In 1859 he married Anna
Waterhouse, and they had nine children. He died in 1877.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 241
Patrick Tormey, supervisor, passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 1907.
He was born in Ireland in 1840 and came to New York in 1858, and to
California that fall, landing in San Francisco on October 31. He joined
his brother John, and together they bought 7000 acres of the Pinole
Ranch. In 1877 he was elected a member of the board of supervisors,
and with the exception of 1894 to 1898 had since served the county. He
married Mary Matthews in 1875.
Died, in Martinez, March 19, 1891, Mrs. Mary B. Tucker, relict
of the late Capt. John Tucker, aged seventy-nine years. She had been a
resident of Martinez since 1851. Captain Tucker died in 1881.
Died, on April 3, 1902, James Walker, a native of Tennessee, born
in 1825. He came to California in 1847, crossing the plains with oxen
and arriving in 1848. He was a nephew of Joel Walker, scout and guide.
In 1853 he came to Ygnacio Valley and farmed until 1890, when he sold
out and bought a home in Walnut Creek. Mr. Walker served as a county
supervisor three years. He was seventy-six years old when he died.
Standing in the cemetery of Martinez is a monument bearing the in-
scription: "Capt. Joseph R. Walker. Born in Roane County, Tenn.,
December 13, 1798. Emigrated to Missouri in 1819, to New Mexico in
1820, Rocky Mountains in 1832, California in 1833. Camped at Yosem-
ite, November 13, 1833. Died October 27, 1876. Age, 77 years, 10
months, and 14 days."
Captain Walker passed his last years with his nephew, the late James
T. Walker, in Ygnacio Valley, near Martinez. He made his first trip
across the plains in 1820 to New Mexico, on a trapping and trading ex-
pedition, but at Prescott Lake troops were dispatched by the Governor
of New Mexico to order their return. In 1832 Walker determined to
make a visit to California. The best maps he could get of the country rep-
resented a river flowing from Salt Lake to the Pacific Coast. He deter-
mined to follow this route and early in the spring set out at the head of
thirty experienced trappers, well mounted and well outfitted. Arriving
at Salt Lake, he made a circuit of it, only to be disappointed in his at-
tempt to find the river. Nothing daunted, he struck west and in October
reached the Sierra Nevadas, which he crossed and attempted to descend
near the headwaters of the Tuolumne, but failing, went farther south,
struck the Merced, and got into the San Joaquin. His were the first white
man's eyes that ever looked upon the Yosemite, which he then discovered.
His party camped and trapped until spring. In the meantime Captain
Walker, with a few men, explored the principal valleys of California. In
1833 he went south along the foothills, looking for a pass to the east.
Guided by his unfailing instinct, he came to what he considered the only
true pass through at 35^ degrees north latitude, and named it Walker's
Pass. He kept on the thirty-fifth parallel and passed through Colorado.
In 1859 he acted as guide to troops sent up the Colorado River to Fort
Yuma. He had been down the Colorado but never up it, but each day
he would draw a map showing where the mountains approached the river,
242 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
where the valley widened, etc., from memory, as he had seen it in
1833. Captain Walker was cotemporary with Jedediah Smith, Kit Car-
son, Jo Bridger, Bill Williams, Fitzpatrick, the Sublettes, and all the noted
frontiersmen of the early days. In 1843, while Captain Walker was at
Fort Hall, Captain Childs, the Yount family, Julius Martin and family,
and Frank McClellan came along and wanted him to pilot them over the
mountains. Walker was afraid they could not make it that winter. Cap-
tain Childs was sent ahead and was to return and meet the party at
Walker's Lake. The party started, but missed Captain Childs, who was
to have provisions for them, and they were in sore straits. They traded
horseshoe nails for fish from the Indians on Walker's River. Winter
was closing in on them, and beyond the lake they killed their cattle, cached
their wagons and goods, and after much suffering got into Tulare Valley.
The women and children's sole dependence for food was placed on the
rifle of Captain Walker. Captain Walker was a brother of Joel Walker.
Died, December 30, 1919, at his home in Antioch, Joseph Wallrath,
aged seventy-one years. He was born in Germany in 1848 and came to
America in 1865, locating in Ohio, where he married Carolina Wendeln,
who died there. In 1883 he came to California, locating at Brentwood,
where he married Anna Lohse. In 1885 he located at Antioch.
Mrs. Almira Walton, a pioneer of Brentwood, died on March 17,
1908, aged ninety-two years. She was born in Georgia and came to Cali-
fornia in 1856, and to Contra Costa County in 1862.
F. W. Warmcastle was born in Pennsylvania in 1815; served as first
lieutenant of Captain Crieg's Missouri Mounted Volunteers; came to
California in 1849; was elected county judge in 1850; and served in the
Assembly in 1853 and again in 1857, and in the Senate in 1877. He also
served as district attorney.
Mrs. Arthur Webb, for thirty-four years a resident of Crockett, died
January 2, 1920, aged sixty-nine years. She was born in New York and
had been a resident of California forty-six years.
Frank Webb, a native of Maine, born in 1833, and a pioneer of 1858
in California and of 1859 in Contra Costa County, died Thursday, April
5, 1906.
I. Weiss, a pioneer of 1859 in California, and of 1860 in Martinez,
died May 15, 1896. He was born in Prussia in 1831. In 1862 he em-
barked in business in Martinez, and in 1877 erected a building, which he
had since occupied. He was a Mason; and it became known, upon his
death, that he was the donor of the Bear Flag donated to the Native Sons
of the Golden West and carried by them at the celebration in San Fran-
cisco in 1890. So modest was he that he did not want his name mentioned
in connection with the furnishing of the flag.
Died, near Clayton, September 29, 1894, Chauncey E. Wetmore, a
native of Connecticut, aged seventy-six years, nine months and one day.
Mr. Wetmore arrived in California in 1847, before the discovery of gold.
He engaged in business in San Francisco, and then in Benicia, and later
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 243
removed to Contra Costa County. His next move was to Oakland, but
eventually he returned to this county and made his home near Clayton.
He was an independent thinker.
Died, in Walnut Creek, July 7, 1893, Cornelius S. Whitcomb, a native
of Canada, aged eighty years. Mr. Whitcomb came to this county in
1851, and settled near Lafayette.
C. N. Wight, for over fifty years a resident of the county, died at
Pittsburg, April 17, 1913, aged seventy-nine years. He was born in New
York and came to Contra Costa County in 1852, via Panama.
In December, 1919, at the age of ninety-two years, Randolph H.
Wight, a pioneer of Contra Costa County, died at the home of his daugh-
ter in Berkeley. Mr. Wight was born in New York in 1827 and came to
Oregon in 1847. In 1848 he arrived' in California, and in 1852 came to
Contra Costa County for the first time. He married Orfa Durfee in
1848.
December 17, 1921. — The death of Mrs. Frances E. Wilder, daugh-
ter of Capt. George Donner, at Byron recently, recalls the tragic story
of the Donner Party's trials of 1846-1847 while en route to California.
Of all those who came across the plains, the Donner Party suffered the
greatest loss of life. Out of eighty-eight, forty-two perished.
Arthur Williams, pioneer butcher of Walnut Creek and one of the
oldest peace officers in the county, died at his home on September 21,
1915. He was born in New York and was a soldier in the Civil War
at sixteen years of age. Mr. Williams had been a resident of California
for forty-four years. He was a Mason and an Odd Fellow.
December 10, 1898.- — Francis H. Williams, public administrator of
Contra Costa County, was suddenly stricken with heart disease in the
office of Dr. E. E. Brown. He was born in Denmark in 1829; in 1846
he came to New York, thence went to New Orleans, and in 1850 sailed
via Cape Horn for San Francisco, settling in Solano County. In 1864
he came to Contra Costa County and located at Antioch until coming to
Martinez in 1878. In 1886 he was elected county assessor, and served
until 1894. In 1896 he was appointed public administrator to succeed
Francis Gunther, who had been adjudged insane. He married Mrs. Eliza-
beth J. Emmons in 1862.
Died, September 29, 1885, Jesse H. Williams, in Moraga Valley,
aged seventy years, four months and sixteen days. Mr. Williams was
born in Virginia in 1 8 1 5 ; he came across the plains in 1850 with ox-teams,
and in 1854 came to Contra Costa County with his wife and five children.
January 27, 1925. — William P. Williamson, Antioch pioneer, aged
ninety-six years, passed away at his home there on Tuesday, January 27,
1925, after a brief illness. He was a native of New Jersey and had come
to California sixty years ago via the Isthmus of Panama. He is survived
by two daughters, Miss Carrie Williamson and Mrs. Bertha Brewer of
Antioch, and two sons, Everett and Chester Williamson of San Francisco.
244 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Died, in Martinez, April 11, 1898, Thomas Z. Witten, a native of
Virginia, aged eighty-four years. Mr. Witten was born in Virginia in
1816. He went to Missouri in 1838, and in 1849 came to California,
crossing the plains. In 1856 he came to Contra Costa County and settled
near Pacheco. He left six children.
Lewis Cass Wittenmyer, one of the most prominent and public-spirited
men of the county, was born in Indiana in 1828, and came across the
plains from St. Joseph, Mo., with mule teams in 1849, and mined for a
time. In 1851 he took up 160 acres on San Lorenzo Creek. He returned
East in the fall of 1852, but came to California the next summer, bring-
ing a band of cattle and horses, and settled in Sycamore Valley. In 1857
he came to Martinez, where he lived until the time of his death, which
occurred in the fall of 1904. He .held many offices of public trust and
was highly honored by all who knew him. He served as justice of the
peace several terms, and was county clerk for thirty-two years. In 1872
he married, and he became the parent of four children. He was a prom-
inent Mason.
March 19, 1911. — Died, at San Pablo, Frederick Wolf, a native of
Germany, born in 1833 and a pioneer of 1859 in California. In 1860 he
came to San Pablo. At his death he was seventy-eight years of age.
On Monday morning, May 20, 1907, Charles Wood died at his Dan-
ville home. He was born in 1830 in Massachusetts, came to California
in 1852, and in 1862 removed to Sycamore Valley, Contra Costa County.
December 18, 1918. — Mrs. Charles Wood, a resident of Sycamore
Valley for fifty years, died this morning at the home of her son, Charles
J. Wood, at the old family homestead. She was born in New York and
was eighty-seven years old. She married Charles Wood in 1857 and in
1862 came to Sycamore Valley to live. Two sons and two daughters are
the survivors of her family.
Died, March 25, 1915, at Woodside in San Ramon Valley, George
Wood, aged seventy-eight years. He was born in Massachusetts and
came to California in the early fifties.
David S. Woodruff was born in New York in 1829. He came via
Panama in 1858, located in Bay Point and taught school; and in 1861
he was elected superintendent of schools. He also served as public ad-
ministrator and was justice of the peace at Nortonville two years. He
opened a drug store in Antioch, and moved to Martinez in 1880.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 245
CHAPTER XVIII
GLEANINGS FROM THE FILES OF THE CONTRA
COSTA GAZETTE, 1858-1926
The establishment of a newspaper in Contra Costa County was an
important factor in its upbuilding and development. On September 18,
1858, W. B. Soule & Company, of Martinez, printed the first copy of
the Contra Costa Gazette, a weekly paper of four six-column pages, issued
every Saturday. From that date, sixty-eight years ago, up to September
18, 1926, the paper did not miss an issue. A complete set of bound vol-
umes of the paper is to be found in the Gazette office in Martinez. The
following data, historical and personal, gleaned from the files of the
paper, will serve to chronicle the main events in the early history of the.
county, trace the gradual development and expansion of its varied in-
terests, and recall many interesting incidents in the lives of its pioneers.
In the extracts given, side-head dates are for the most part to be un-
derstood as dates of the weekly issues. Undated paragraphs follow in
chronological sequence, as a rule, between those with dates, but often are
not to be assigned to the preceding dated issue. It has seemed unneces-
sary to use quotation marks, especially as the matter given has often been
condensed.
Some of the advertisers whose names appeared in the issue of Sep-
tember 18, 1858, were:
Charles A. Ruggles, M. D.
Solano Hotel, Benicia, F. W. Weimann, proprietor.
E. H. Bryan, copper, tin and sheet iron wares, stores, pumps, lead
pipe, etc.
L. H. Hastings, dealer in beef, pork, hides, tallow and all kinds of
produce.
A. Hersey, painter, glazier, paperhanger, whitewasher, and all kinds
of imitations of wood and marble.
J. W. Sanborn, Benicia, "where can be found papers from all the prin-
cipal Atlantic cities; also an assortment of stationery, periodicals, etc."
S. Blum & Brothers, dealers in groceries, clothing, drygoods, boots
shoes, etc.
E. Lasar, dealer in dry goods, clothing, groceries, boots, shoes, etc.
George F. Worth, notary public.
Martinez Lodge No. 41, F. & A. M.; T. A. Brown, W. M.; John F.
S. Smith, Secretary.
Hale & Fassett, dealers in drygoods, groceries, crockery, hardware,
clothing, etc., Pacheco, Cal.
Walter Lopez, shaving saloon.
246 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Alhambra Hotel and Restaurant, meals at all hours. Horses and
carriages to let. Josiah Sturgis, proprietor, Martinez.
Cornelius Connelly, 500 bushels Australian Red Seed Wheat for sale.
Bella Union Hotel and French Store, L. Dutil, dealer in groceries,
etc. He recommends himself for superior wines and liquors.
September 18, 1858. — A slight earthquake shock was felt here Sunday
evening about 8 p. m. [As Saturday was the day of publication, the Sun-
day mentir ned fell on September 12.]
The through mail to Memphis and St. Louis starts from San Fran-
cisco at 1 o'clock tomorrow morning, and it is calculated by the contractor
that it will get through in twenty-five days. Preparations have been made
to transport promptly any number of passengers that may offer, or any
amount of mail matter. One hundred miles per day is the distance to be
traveled, which, if the stages are able to perform, will cut the time con-
siderably under twenty-five days. We fully expect that in the course of
a year this southern mail will be run regularly through in from fifteen
to twenty days.
The steamer Sonora arrived in San Francisco on Thursday, at 11 a.
m. She brings highly interesting and important news. The Atlantic tele-
graph wire has been successfully laid. Congratulatory messages have been
exchanged between Europe and America. The Queen of England sent
the first dispatch to Mr. Buchanan and was immediately replied to. The
cable was spliced in mid-ocean July 29. On August 4 the Niagara arrived
with one end at Trinity Bay, New Foundland. On the 5th the cable
was landed and connected with the American station. On the 16th the
first message was flashed along the wires.
On Monday evening the overland mail coach, which left Salt Lake
September 1, arrived at Placerville with two passengers.
The 6th Infantry has left Fort Bridger for California via the Hum-
boldt.
General Harney and a number of troops are en route to Oregon.
Notice : The stock-owners of this county can have facsimile brands of
their own inserted in this paper by paying cost of engraving and the usual
price of advertising.
Born, in Martinez, on September 23, 1858, to the wife of Henry
Bush, Jr., a son.
San Ramon. — There is no law laid down in the statutes in relation to
hogs running at large in this county.
September 25, 1858. — We are indebted to Henry Rich of the Knick-
erbocker, of Benicia, for his gentlemanly treatment towards us and our
friends on Sunday last. We would state that he has on hand a full supplv
of mussels and a fine glass of brandy on which those who are waiting for
the river-boats would do well to regale themselves. May success always
attend him.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 247
October 2, 1858. — Total value of property assessed for the year
1857 was $1,842,405; but for 1858, $2,536,617, an increase of $694,212.
This difference is in part due, no doubt, to the increasing activity and
thoroughness of our efficient assessor.
October 9, 1858. — A company of eighty men is organized at Weaver-
ville to fight the Indians, and another is about forming.
The Los Angeles Vineyard reports that gold and ores of silver and
copper have been found in the mountains north of Los Angeles.
The steamer Golden Gate, which left San Francisco on Tuesday last
for Panama, carried away 420 passengers and $1,850,120 in treasure.
The law prohibiting the immigration of Chinese went into effect on the
1st inst. The last arrivals were per the ship Frowning Bird, the 28th ult.
First dispatch over the Placerville and Humboldt Telegraph was sent
October 7, 1858. Messages are now being sent hourly from Placerville east.
Advertisement: — Ambrotypes, melancotypes, and portraits on leather.
Also for sale, gilt mouldings and picture frames. J. W. Jones.
October 16, 1858. — The overland mail arrived yesterday from San
Francisco via Los Angeles, from Memphis and St. Louis, with four days
later news from the East. The mail left St. Louis on the same day that
the mail steamer left New York, and was detained thirty-seven hours at
Fort Smith, Ark., waiting for the mail from Memphis; but still, with this
drawback, the overland mail arrived in San Francisco before the mail
steamer.
San Francisco Markets: Flour, $9 to $10.25, slight decline; wheat,
$2.75 to $3, as to quality; barley, $1 to $1.02^; oats, $1.50 to $1.55,
as to quality; butter, Atlantic States, from 18 cents to 23 cents. Dealers,
will pay 65 cents per dozen for eggs. Fresh butter, 80 cents per pound;
cheese, 21 cents; spring chickens, $5 to $8 per dozen; old hens, $10.50;
tame geese, $5 per pair; turkeys, 30 cents to 32 cents per pound; apples,
jobbing at 15 cents to 20 cents per pound; Spanish cattle, 6 cents to 7 cents
per pound, live weight; calves, 12 cents; American cattle, 8 cents to 1 1
cents per pound, live weight.
October 30, 1858. — The Gazette comes out, with Bonnard & Com-
pany, editors and proprietors, who announce that they will "make it a
paper worthy of the support of the citizens of the county, and not a
vehicle to advance the interests of any clique of men or party, but an inde-
pendent journal soaring above and toadying to none of the latter interests."
January 1, 1859. — Contra Costa Agricultural Society formed at La-
fayette.
First County Fair was inaugurated October 11, 1859, and an ex-
cellent exhibit took place. In September, 1861, a pavilion, 60 by 40 feet,
was built at Pacheco.
The first officers of the above were : L. I. Fish, president ; Daniel Small,
vice-president; H. H. Fassett, recording secretary; L. M. Brown, cor-
responding secretary; John M. Jones, treasurer.
248 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
February 26, 1859. — W. Bradford appears as editor and publisher
of the Gazette, and in his editorial he says: "It is usual for editors to
set forth the manner in which they will conduct their paper and to en-
large upon the advantages their accession to the editorial corps will be
to the community, giving in detail the course they intend to pursue. Now,
we do not propose to do anything of the kind. We shall endeavor to so
conduct the Gazette as to make it a welcome weekly visitor to the family
circle, the farmer, the mechanic and the merchant."
February 26, 1859. — Ferryboat Carquinez will make regular trips
between Martinez and Benicia, leaving Martinez at 8 a. m., 10 a. m.,
11a. m., 1 p. m., 3 p. m., 5 :30 p. m. ; leaving Benicia at 8 :30 a. m., 10 :30
a. m., 1 1 :30 a. m., 1 :30 p. m., 3 :30 p. rri., and 6 p. m. Coffin & Swain.
Born, April 30, 1859, in San Ramon Valley, to the wife of Jacob
Reid, a son; May 1, to the wife of R. O. Baldwin, a daughter.
April 7, 1860. — Overland Pony Express. The first Central Over-
land Horse Express for St. Louis left San Francisco on Tuesday after-
noon. It carries 85 letters at $5 each, amounting to $425. It is calcu-
lated to make the trip to St. Louis in nine or ten days. At the same time
the express leaves Sacramento, a courier leaves St. Joseph, Missouri,
and if the project is a success at the start we may look for the announce-
ment, at Carson City, of news only nine or ten days old, say on the four-
teenth of this month. Mr. Wm. W. Finney, the agent of Russell, Majors
& Company, has placed his station three hundred miles from Sacramento,
towards Salt Lake, in order for the start. Another division extends out
from Salt Lake to meet him, and from the latter city, eastward, the sta-
tions of the mail from St. Joseph to Salt Lake will be used.
April 28, 1860. — The Pony Express. The Pony Express last arrived
was nine days and seventeen hours from St. Joseph, Missouri. The Ex-
press passed through this place on Monday morning in charge of Mr.
Thomas J. Bedford of Benicia. By previous arrangements, the ferry
boat Carquinez was at her berth in Benicia at an early hour, in anticipa-
tion of its arrival, and not a moment of time was lost in conveying it to
this place. As the boat touched this side, the horse sprang from her deck,
and dashing up the wharf was soon lost to sight as he and his gallant
rider went flying on their way to Oakland. The distance from Martinez
to Oakland is about twenty-five miles. The Express left here at 7 :33
a. m. and arrived at Oakland as reported to us at 9:32, which, if correct,
makes the time occupied one hour and fifty-nine minutes. According to
the city papers, however, it was accomplished in one hour and forty-five
minutes, which was probably the swiftest riding on the whole route.
On April 28, 1860, the Gazette is published by Bradford & Bunker.
"R. R. Bunker, having purchased a half interest in the Gazette establish-
ment, will hereafter be associated and equally authorized with the under-
signed in the publication of this paper. W. Bradford."
On June 9, 1860, in San Francisco, a trial run was made with a
steam wagon that arrived from England. It was guided with an appliance
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 249
like on a boys velocipede. It was loaded with fifty tons and moved
along briskly enough where the road was firm enough to bear the weight.
Now that our Yankee machinists have a model, they may succeed in making
improvements until perfection is reached. For the present we do not
believe that the steam wagon will run our horses and mules off our
common roads.
July 7, 1806. — Pacheco Engine Company, No. 1, has the following
officers and members: W. J. Caldwell, fireman; J. McDermott, assistant;
John Phillips, secretary; W. T. Hendrick, treasurer; Elijah Hook, Nelson
Howe, J. H. Troy, Henry Miller, S. J. Gould, Gus Wilson, J. C. Fish, John
Thorn, S. Dubois, R. S. Brown, G. P.Sanford, J. Babbatt, Edw. Doane,
Peter Pons, J. A. Littlefield, John Cerf, George Zogbaum, George Em-
inett, H. R. Hicks, S. Bacon, W. Henry, S. Standish, W. K. Dell, George
Sturtevant, W. H. Boss, A. Wortheimer, H. Lord, G. F. Rupert, P. H.
Standish, G. W. Doane, W. E. Woodford, G. S. Tate, J. Clark, T.
Downing, J. W. Baker.
July 13, 1860. — The non-arrival of the pony express at the expected
time was a source of deep regret to all who felt an interest in the suc-
cess of the enterprise. The delay is probably caused by the breaking up of
stations during the Indian troubles and the necessity of re-stocking the
route with horses. A number of animals have been purchased in this
vicinity for that purpose, and we may soon expect regularity in its
movements.
March 16, 1861. — "I have disposed of my interest in the Gazette
office to W. W. Theobalds, who, in connection with Mr. Bunker, will
continue the publication of the paper, and who together are authorized
to collect all outstanding accounts of the office. W. Bradford."
The paper thereafter was issued by Bunker & Theobalds.
January 4, 1862, it began raining, and on the 11th the valleys,
farming regions, hills, mountains and mining districts suffered; flumes
and structures of all kinds used in mining were swept away, also bridges,
miners' cabins, etc. Snow fell to a depth of six inches at the coal mines,
and there were also landslides.
In 1862 the Hot Springs near Byron were brought to the notice of
the public, though they had been discovered years previously.
Stockraisers of the early sixties in Contra Costa County, with reg-
istered brands, included the following in or near the places named:
Martinez: J. Strentzel, Dr.- F. E. Hough, Dr. John Tennent, M.
R. Barber, B. R. Holliday, S. M. Swain.
Alamo: M. B. Mitchell, A. Ford, A. Hemme, B. Hall, S. A. Carpen-
ter, James Foster, F. A. Bonnard, A. W. Hammitt, S. Stone, U. Hunt-
ington, W. Z. Stone, W. C. Chapman, D. P. Smith, W. Hayes & Bro.,
S. Wolff & Co., E. H. Cox, Joel Harlan, J. M. Jones, Golder Field,
T\ Glass.
Danville: John Smith, R. O. Baldwin, J. Flippin, D. L. Spencer, J.
Sterne, J. M. Jones, J. L. Labaree, T. Flournoy.
250 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Pacheco: James Hoyt, S. Pacheco, J. L. Bromley, D. Boss, J. T.
Walker.
November, 1862. — The Postmaster General has ordered the dis-
continuance of the Antioch postoffice, as being of the class deemed un-
necessary.
December 20, 1862. — Dr. E. F. Hough discovered deposits of red,
green, yellow and blue paints near Martinez on El Hambre Creek and has
associated himself with M. R. Barber and N. B. Smith, and two capitalists
of San Francisco, to develop the property.
January 10, 1863. — Walnut Creek has had a postoffice established.
The postmaster is J. R. McDonald.
March 21, 1863. — Two years ago hardly a solitary house could be
seen where Antioch now stands, and now there are some sixty buildings,
all occupied, and more needed. There are two stores, express office, and
saloons. The Stockton steamer stops there on its way up and down the
San Joaquin River, so the people can get the papers from San Francisco
and Stockton the day of issue. Religious services are held on Sunday,
and a school of from twenty-five to thirty pupils is established.
May 23, 1863.- — Mining companies include: Ypsilanti Gold, Silver
& Copper Company, Clayton district, Contra Costa County, capital stock,
$420,000, 4200 shares at $100; Cayuga Copper Mining Company, Clay-
ton district, Contra Costa County, 3300 shares at $100 each; Bay County
Gold & Silver Mining Company, Contra Costa Countv, capital stock
$530,000, 1860 shares. Other companies are: Contra Costa Mining
Company, Oriental Copper Mining Company, Pine Tree Mining Com-
pany, Georgiana Mining Company, Rock Oak Mining Company, Peer-
less Mining Company, Bay State Mining Company, and Bunker Mining
Company; and in the San Ramon district: Cold Springs Mining Company,
Buena Vista Mining Company, Golden Spear Mining Company, Silver
Spear Mining Company.
The following have been included since the last issue of the Gazette,
to work copper mines in Contra Costa County: The Keokuk Gold, Silver
& Copper Mining Company, capital stock $600,000, 12,000 shares at
$50 each; and Contra Costa Copper, Gold & Silver Mining Company,
capital stock $420,000, 8400 shares at $50 each.
Twelve more were included during the week ending May 30, 1863.
August 1, 1863. — Adjutant General, Kibbe has prepared and pub-
lished a list of electors, residents of California, in the military service
of the United State, entitled to vote at the next election. Here is the
list from Contra Costa County: C. N. Ashley, M. Toumy, J. Neal,
James E. Mason, J. Eichenburger, R. Hutchinson, P. F. Lawrence, W. H.
Watrous, O. M. Coombs, Hopkin Hopkins, Charles Myer, N. B. McGill,
Thomas Howell, G. R. Hosmer, Henry Andrews, B. Sharpless, James
Baron, M. S. Loomis, William Whitney, F. O. McGuire, I. B. Sheppard,
R. Haskell, G. Lawson, T. Scott, J. McConliff, P. Smith, William Craw-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 251
ford, A. J. Dexter, John Ulric, V. Abbey, Dr. George Gwyther, M. A.
Meisenheimer.
September 19, 1863. — The first shipment of copper ore from the
Mount Diablo mines, about one ton of rock from the Mount Zion, and
a ton from the Pioneer, passed through Pacheco to San Francisco to be
smelted.
January 23, 1864. — The Federal officials, in completing the work of
enrollment in Contra Costa County, report 1560 men liable for military
duty.
March 5, 1864. — A fire in Clayton on February 23 wiped out the
Clayton Hotel, Rhine & Clayton's store, Union Hotel, A. Senderman's
store, Perry Cram's livery, Dell's House; about $15,000 loss, one-fourth
insured.
1867-1868. — Mrs. Jane C. Smith planted some mulberry trees and
raised some silk worms near Somersville.
Mrs. Sarah C. Sellars, in the Iron House district, had some 3000 trees.
A cocoonery was built near the grove, on scientific principles.
Mrs. Lafferty, Mr. Betteheim and Mr. Mills also rarsed cocoons.
April 1871. — James Steele and Isaac Yoakum were arrested in the
Moraga Valley for assault upon the Moraga family. Some fifteen or
twenty shots were fired from rifles; one horse, ridden by a Moraga, was
killed. The affray was a dispute over the possession of land, originally
owned and occupied by the Moragas but claimed by Carpentier and
Yoakum under judicial decrees.
April 27, 1871. — Isaac Yoakum was shot, the affair taking place
in Alameda County, while he and an assistant were driving some cattle
to Yoakum's ranch in Moraga Valley. [Later Silverio Moraga was
killed by George Steele, July 8, 1871.]
June 4, 1873. — Miss Gumecinda Moraga sued Isaac Yoakum in the
Third District Court for $10,000 damages, for an alleged assault com-
mitted during the difficulties incident to the Moraga feud.
November 2, 1872. — The following statistics of the county were
compiled from returns made to the surveyor general by the county sur-
veyor, January 1, 1871, to January 1, 1872:
Land enclosed in 1871 : 125,940 acres; land cultivated in 1871, 69,790
acres.
Acreage Harvested
Wheat 51,140 701,720 bushels
Barley 15,400 310,030 bushels
Oats 1,800 48,900 bushels
Rye 670 2,000 bushels
Corn 200 5,320 bushels
Buckwheat 30 570 bushels
Peas 20 410 bushels
Beans 225 4,560 bushels
252 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Acreage Harvested
Potatoes 90 16,890 tons
Sweet potatoes 6 30 tons
Onions 28 3,810 bushels
Hay 13,700 14,300 tons
Beets - 1,800 tons
Turnips 700 tons
Pumpkins and Squash 2,000 tons
Butter -194,200 pounds
Cheese : 38,900 pounds
Wool - - 110,620 pounds
Honey 6,200 pounds
January 25, 1873. — Isaac Lobree, general grocer and provision mer-
chant at Antioch, was arrested on complaint of the town marshal, Mahon,
convicted and fined $5, on a charge of violating the Sunday law, by keep-
ing his place open. He paid the fine, thereby signifying his acceptance
of the law. This is the first conviction under the law.
January ^25, 1873. — The Martinez public school, which has been
closed the past two months, will reopen in the Masonic Hall, January 27.
It is to be hoped that the new school building will be completed by
May 1, for the summer term.
April 5, 1873. — H. W. Carpentier has instituted suits in ejectment
against many of the settlers and occupants of the Castro Sobrante lying
between and surrounded by Pinole, San Pablo, Moraga, San Ramon,
El Hambre and Welch ranchos. Most of the parties are living on the
upper end of the tract claimed and, as they have reason to believe, upon
what are public lands, if the Sobrante is not stretched beyond its proper
limits.
April 5, 1873. — By requirement of the new code, Contra Costa
County, with some 8000 inhabitants, must be apportioned into five super-
visoral districts at the next meeting of the Board; and at the next general
election the people of each district will elect a supervisor, if the district
has not already an official.
First District: Martinez, Pinole, San Pablo; about 400 votes.
Second District: Lafayette, Walnut Creek, and Danville; about 400
votes.
Third District: Pacheco, enlarged by San Miguel and part of Welsh,
Concord, Bay Point and part of Black Diamond; about 300 votes.
Fourth District: Clayton, Nortonville with Landing and part of Black
Diamond, and Somersville; about 350 votes.
Fifth District: Antioch, Point of Timber; about 390 votes.
July, 1873. — J. S. Hill contemplated building Hotel Mount Diablo.
Articles of incorporation were filed November 4. Capital stock $25,000,
shares $10 each.
September 27, 1873. — Danville Grange, P. of H., with thirty char-
ter members, was organized at Danville today.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 253
November 22, 1873. — The certificate of incorporation of the Bank
of Martinez was filed in the county clerk's office October 6, 1873.
Directors: L. D. Fish, W. W. Cameron, S. Blum, H. M. Hale, W. M.
Hale. Capital stock $50,000; 500 shares at $100 each. The new bank
building is now completed and the bank is already proving a great
public accomodation and has been doing a brisk business. This is the
second week it has been open for business.
January 10, 1874. — On December 29, 1873, Antioch Grange, P. of
H., was instituted with J. P. Walton, Master.
Judge C. W. Lander died very suddenly, on January 16, 1874, of
congestion of the brain, on the veranda of the residence of Mrs. Jane
E. Chase, about midway between the village center and his own resi-
dence. He was a graduate of Waterville College, Maine.
January 23, 1874.- — Marshall Martin was hanged in the inclosure
of the jail yard in Martinez, for the murder of Valentine Eischler, com-
mitted about a year ago on Marsh Creek, since which time he has
been in the county jail. Verdict of the coroner's jury at time of ex-
ecution: "We, the jury, find that Marshall Martin was born in Ten-
nessee, was about fify-eight years old, and that he came to his death by
being executed by the sheriff and his deputies of Contra Costa County at
Martinez under warrant issued out of the Fifteenth District Court of
the State of California. We also find that the arrangements for the
execution were perfect in every particular; and that any fall that would
have broken the neck would have severed the head from the body on
account of the muscular development being soft and flabby. D. W. Swain,
Wm. Hanna, T. McMahon, J. W. Fish, David Powell, F. M. Smith, A.
B. Hamblen, T. Redfern, B. V. Merle, A. Altamerano."
The Governor, on Wednesday, issued a communication to T. A.
Brown, as county judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge
Lander.
February 18, 1874. — Articles of incorporation of Green Valley and
Mount Diablo Summit Road Company were filed to construct and main-
tain a turnpike road from a point on the Green Valley Road to a junction
with Mount Diablo, Summit Road; stock $5000; shares $10 each.
February 21, 1874. — Among the mail contracts for four years, from
July 1, awarded by the Postoffice Department, was one to L. A. Miller
for daily service on the Martinez to Oakland route, which includes La-
fayette, Walnut Creek, Alamo, Danville and Pacheco, for $1685 per year;
and one to John Eads for daily service on the Pacheco-Antioch route,
embracing Concord, Clayton, Nortonville and Somersville, for $1180
per year. The mail between San Pablo and Martinez was awarded to
N. P. Ingalls.
April 4, 1874. — Within a week the mountain grade of the Diablo
Summit Road will be completed and the crossings of the canyon portion
made passable for any description of vehicle, so that the ascent to the
summit may be quickly and pleasantly made.
254 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
April 18, 1874. — The coach line for the Diablo roads, the one from
Martinez through Pine Canyon, and that from Haywards through Green
Valley, will have the finest carriages and teams ever employed for coach
passenger conveyances on this Coast. Fifty fine horses have been pur-
chased. The carriages are being built by the Kimbal Carriage Company
and are especially designed for style, strength, lightness and elegance.
The Martinez and Pine Canyon line will be run by J. Seeley Bennett;
the Haywards line, by W. S. Low.
April 25, 1874. — The residents of Ygnacio Valley, San Ramon, La-
fayette and Walnut Creek are making a laudable effort to establish a
high school in the vicinity of Walnut Creek. $5000 in subscriptions have
already been secured on further subscription of $10,000.
May 2, 1874. — This has been a noteworthy day, not only for Mar-
tinez, but for all lovers of outdoor travel in California. The carriage
road from Martinez to the summit of Diablo was thrown open to the
public. Last summer J. S. Hall made the ascent alone on horseback from
Clayton, and knowing something about mountain roads, conceived the
plan of building a scenic road to the summit. He enlisted the support of
others, and the road is the result.
September 26, 1874.- — The Danville Grange celebrated the opening
of their new hall today with a festal meeting. A very pleasant time was
enjoyed by all.
The Alhambra Grange was organized December 4, 1874.
March 13, 1875. — A fire company has been organized at Antioch, and
apparatus consisting of four poles, three hooks, two ladders, and four
axes, has been ordered.
December 18, 1875. — The new church at Danville is rapidly nearing
completion, and it is expected it will be ready for occupancy in the early
spring. Rev. Symington is to serve as pastor.
January 15, 1876. — The survey of the Moraga Rancho in two separ-
ate tracts, one of 12,800 acres and the other of about 500 acres, excites
some remarks and conjectures. If the quantity, to which the title of a
grant presumed to be in one body has been confirmed, can be located in
two parts, within the exterior limits, why not in ten to twenty or more
to cover all the choice spots? Mr. Carpentier has run the 500-acre strip
through the Redwood Canyon, and the larger acreage embraces all the
best portion of Moraga Valley.
April 28, 1876. — The Central Pacific Railway depot was located at
Martinez.
June 3, 1876. — Frederick Langenkamp, of Ygnacio Valley, is the
pioneer hop grower of the county. Three years ago he planted ten acres.
This year his prospects are fine for a large yield. He has a furnace, dry-
ing house and packing rooms constructed on approved plans, and is going
into the business as a source of good profit.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 255
August 30, 1878. — Antioch Ledger announces that Henry C. Galla-
gher has taken a five-year lease of the hotel at the Point of Timber Hot
Springs.
September 7, 1878. — There is a fever created by the survey of the
Sobrante Grant, begun some weeks ago under the direction of the United
States Surveyor General, and many people in the western border of
Contra Costa County and about Oakland have been much excited in hopes
of getting a grab at what may prove to be government land, after the
location and restriction of the Sobrante.
The land is all in the possession of settlers who have purchased the
grant title and who hold mostly in large tracts; but the privileged few,
armed with the inside information, have located University script on every
foot of the ground except 160 acres to each settler. In addition the
hills teem with squatters who are busy selecting their locations without
any regard to the grant title or the University script. The squatters are
ignorant as to the lines of either survey, and annoy the farmers whose
titles are not affected as much as they do those whose lands lie in the
disputed belt.
The grant owners hope to have the survey rejected; the script holders
hope and expect that it will not be; and the squatters hope to acquire
some right by being early in the field. The script locators are entirely
dependent upon the ruling of the courts in their favor, and are willing to
await the turn of events; but the squatters are persistent and not disposed
to remain quiet, for fear they might waive some right which they otherwise
might acquire. The settlers are determined to defend their rights and
are quietly arming. Nearly every house on the disputed ground is a citadel
stored with arms and ammunition. It is to be regretted that this entangle-
ment could not be gotten over without resort to arms, either to assert or
defend the rights of any man.
September 7, 1878. — K. W. Taylor is now engaged in making the
partition surveys of the San Pablo Rancho for the commissioners appoint-
ed under the partition decree and judgment of the court.
September 7, 1878, the postoffice was established at Pinole and
Bernardo Fernandez was appointed postmaster.
September 21, 1878. — The occupants of the Sobrante lands excluded
from the recent survey, and of lands on previously finally located grants
that have been included in the late Sobrante survey, are in an unpleasant
state of worriment; and those of the excluded Sobrante lands are forced
to the extremity of resisting the invasion of script locators and preemptors
with death-dealing arms, or of surrendering their possessions. There have
been as yet no fatal encounters, but shots have frequently been exchanged
between the two forces. There is a possibility that there may be consid-
erable bloodshed for possession of some of these lands.
Rancho el Sobrante finally confirmed to J. J. & Victor Castro, surveyed
by William Minto in August, 1878, containing 20,563.42 acres, which
256 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
area covers 10,375.69 acres included in the final survey of Rancho La
Boca de la Canada del Pinole and 221.09 acres included in the final survey
of Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados.
October 12, 1878.- — Ejectment suits begun by several owners under
Sobrante Grant title whose lands have been jumped upon claim that they
are public lands by the recent survey. Most of these claimants have been
in possession for years. Among the suits of ejectment are: one by Felix
Brisac against some twenty-three or twenty-four alleged tresspassers,
one by Daniel Clancy against four or five, one by Mrs. Mary Baden
against four, one by N. Thode against four, one by Herman Hadler
against four, one by Julius Reiners against four.
Married at the residence of the bride's parents near Point of Timber,
October 22, 1878, by Rev. L. H. Meade, of Clayton, Volney Taylor and
Miss Agnes E. Andrews.
November 23, 1878. — The thriving village of Walnut Creek has
been improved the past summer by a large addition to the schoolhouse;
half a dozen cottages; the two-story building of J. M. Stow, postmaster,
store below and Masonic Hall above; the new store of Shuey & Pittman;
an enlargement of D. N. Sherburne's store, which has been provided with
a fireproof safe. Walnut Creek has the aspect of a thrifty business village.
The fine climate and attractive surroundings are likely to insure a con-
stant future gain of population.
November 30, 1878. — An anvil salute was fired under the direction
of the Workingmen's Club in honor of Dennis Kearney, when he passed
through Martinez on his way East on the Overland last Tuesday after-
noon. The great agitator bowed his acknowledgements from the rear
platform.
In the several suits brought in the District Court by Sobrante owners
under grant title to eject trespassers, judgment of ejectment was given
for the plaintiffs with cost of suit; and in the case of Brisac against
Twomey et al., the judgment included damages of $1000.
December 7, 1878. — The owners of the Briones Grant were notified
by telegram from Washington, D. C, last Tuesday, that their patent had
been issued and recorded in the general land office and would be mailed
to their order on Friday of this week.
January 25, 1879. — The Union Cemetery, controlled by a corpora-
tion, George Fellows, president, has been located on four acres on a quar-
ter section of C. J. Preston's land leading from Point of Timber to Brent-
wood.
April 12, 1879. — The Concord fire department has been fully or-
ganized and a committee appointed to report on apparatus. $134 was
subscribed to further the objects of this committee. Officers: H. J. Nel-
son, foreman; Charles Bente, assistant; S. Bacon, treasurer; B. J. Mur-
phy, secretary; Charles Navas, P. Klein and Paul Lohse, trustees.
May 17, 1879. — The board of supervisors purchased the south half
of the vacant portion of the town block east of the court house, of L. C.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 257
Wittenmyer, for $500, and are negotiating for the other half for the
same sum, which has been declined.
July 12, 1879. — James Stewart announces the opening of his new
cash grocery and provision store at the corner of Castro and Locust
Streets.
July 26, 1879. — The beginning of a sewerage system for Martinez
has been made in the line of an 8-inch iron-stone pipe laid through four
blocks up from the bay on Las Juntas Street, with provision for construct-
ing side drains on either side.
Married, at Point of Timber, September 3, 1879, by Rev. William
Gaffney, Wells N. Moore and Olive A. Plumley; also on September 3,
Henry Sedge and Sarah E. Plumley.
September 6, 1879. — On September 1, 1879, Walnut Creek was alive
with people from the houses of the town and country, thronging the main
street to witness the golden wedding of Milo H. Turner and Caroline M.
Clark. They were married in Troy, N. Y., in 1829; came to California
in 1852; came to Contra Costa County and located at Walnut Creek in
1874. The wedding ceremony was again enacted, after which congratu-
lations were in order. Many beautiful presents were given the couple.
September 30, 1879. — Gen. U. S. Grant was greeted by about 300
people and the firing of a salute, when the train on which he was a pas-
senger made a two-minute stop at Martinez. He stood on the platform
of the rear car and after three cheers had been given, courteously raised
his hat in acknowledgment.
November 24, 1879. — The great railroad ferry-boat Solano, of the
Northern Railway Company, for service from Benicia to Bull Valley,
made her trial trip November 24 from Oakland to Benicia slip, and
thence across the straits to Bull Valley, where she lies ready for service.
The boat is the largest in the world ever built for such service, and all
the resources of the builders have been employed with a view to strength
and efficiency.
Married at Clayton, December 20, 1879, by D. S. Carpenter, justice
of the peace, Joseph A. Houston, of Byron, to Miss Isabel McLane of
Lake County.
January 10, 1880. — Judge T. A. Brown presided at the opening of
the new Superior Court last Monday, January 5. No business offering,
he declared a recess. There is much doubt as to the regularity and valid-
ity of any proceeding in the Superior Court under the present practice,
Acts and Codes. An early act of the legislature is looked for, which will
enable them to go on without the raising of any questions as to the validity
of their proceedings.
September 9, 1882. — The Port Costa Flouring Mills Company has
filed articles of incorporation with the county clerk of San Francisco
County for the purpose of carrying on a general flouring mill business at
258 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Port Costa. Capital stock $150,000. Directors: F. M. Brown, William
M. Given Jr., W. B. English, Barry O. Baldwin, and E. J. Coleman.
At Port Costa wharf building is progressing rapidly and track laying
will soon commence on the wharf recently surveyed. Soon tracks will
be laid all around the houses built on the piles at this place.
September 16, 1882. — A Legion of Honor is about to be instituted
at Clayton.
September 23, 1882. — Since September, 1858, we do not remember
that we have had so early a considerable rain throughout so large a por-
tion of the State as that of last Saturday. ... In this county there was
a heavy fall at Antioch, which seems to have been confined to the river
margin. In the evening it showered heavily at Martinez, while in the
vicinity of Pacheco and Concord the fall of rain and hail was heavy, but
did not extend to Walnut Creek.
Port Costa. — The coal bunkers "have been started, and work from this
source has brought about sixty men to this place. The wharf will be
800 feet long, and from 30 to 40 feet wide.
The hotels of Port Costa are full to overflowing. Rooms are in
great demand; beds are at a premium. There is a good chance for some
energetic person to start a lodging house here.
Concord. — The telephone- line between Pacheco and Clayton was com-
pleted last week.
October 7, 1882. — The Port Costa Warehouse & Dock Company has
incorporated with a capital stock of $500,000. The directors are: A.
Cheesebrough, E. B. Cutter, A. E. Mosby, J. H. Freeman and A. R.
Church. The object is to do a general storage business.
October 28, 1882. — H. O. Beaman of Pinole is having a new resi-
dence constructed.
A. K. P. Nason has filed a declaration of homestead in Block 23 in
the town of Antioch. The value of the property is estimated at $2000.
New powder works are being erected near Pinole by the Granite Pow-
der Company. Some day we expect to hear that the west end of the
county has entirely gone to blazes.
O. F. James, for nearly twenty-two years postmaster of Martinez,
has resigned and will soon retire from his long business career.
December 2, 1882. — The Concord boys are talking about organizing
a brass band.
The coal market is so brisk at present that the Mount Diablo mines
are unable to fill all the orders that come in.
December 9, 1882. — A Presbyterian church has been organized at
Concord with Rev. D. Monroe as pastor; William Caven, John Braw-
and, and E. A. Jaquith, trustees. There has been $500 appropriated by
the Presbytery, $600 by the citizens for a building, and S. Bacon has
given a lot.
December 23, 1882. — A Good Templars Lodge, with forty-two mem-
bers, was organized at Lafayette, with officers elected and installed. A
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 259
Good Templars Lodge with 23 members was organized at Martinez,
and officers elected.
December 30, 1882. — A Good Templars Lodge was organized at
Danville December 16, with thirty-seven members.
January 6, 1883. — The snow-storm on Sunday last was a surprise
and a novelty, although it was general throughout the Bay countie6,
where snow is seldom experienced. Contra Costa seems to have received
more than her share. There fell at least five inches in our county and the
west valleys, and east of Diablo the fall in places amounted to a foot.
January 13, 1883. — Last week the British ships Minnie Burrell, Argo-
naut and Cernga left Port Costa for Europe, and the Glendarnel arrived.
J. D. Peters of Stockton estimates that there are 400,700 tons of
wheat in the State on December 31, of which 30,000 tons are in Contra
Costa County.
January 20, 1883. — A brass band was organized at Antioch.
A certificate of co-partnership has been filed by L. Levinsky, P. Fabian,
and M. Grunauer, who will conduct a merchandise business at Byron under
the name of P. Fabian & Company.
January 27, 1883. — The Antioch Lodge of Good Templars has now
105 members. It is the banner lodge of the county.
The Concord Literary and Dramatic Club has been organized with
A. Thurber, president; Dr. E. Bragdon, secretary; Mrs. R. H. Caven,
treasurer; and with a membership of twenty-five.
February 24, 1883. — The citizens of Walnut Creek have made a
commendable movement in the organization of a Hook & Ladder Com-
pany; foreman, W. B. Rogers; secretary, J. M. Wilson; treasurer, M.
Kirsch.
Scammon's Hotel is now completed at Port Costa. For the last few
months the hotels at Port Costa have been crowded to utmost capacity.
March 3, 1883. — The thermometer at the Martinez postoffice Thurs-
day reached 78 degrees in the shade. A little more of that snow, please.
The recently erected railroad coal bunkers at Port Costa are finished
and ready for use and the tracks were laid to bring the trains under the
chutes, of which there are fifty, from which a train of twenty-five cars
can be loaded in a few minutes. The capacity is about 12,000 tons of coal.
Port Costa.— The first pile was driven Monday for the erection of
the Nevada Bank's large wharves and warehouses, which, when completed,
will be 2300 feet long. At the present rate, our town will soon be a solid
structure for a distance of three miles.
March 17, 1883. — Excelsior Lodge, I. O. G. T., of Byron, which was
organized March 7, 1869, with eighteen charter members, celebrated its
fourteenth anniversary with 160 present, visitors coming from many neigh-
boring lodges.
At a meeting of the citizens of Martinez at the Court House Monday
evening for the purpose of organizing a water company to supply Mar-
tinez and Port Costa with water, R. R. Bunker was elected chairman, and
260 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
C. Ed. Miller, secretary. A committee was appointed to draw up articles
of incorporation, also one to see where water could be obtained. The
former committee was composed of I. E. Marshall, S. Blum, S. J. Bennett,
Thos. McMahon, J. O'B. Wyatt; the latter: T. A. McMahon, I. E.
Marshall, and W. S. Tinning.
March 31, 1883. — A slight earthquake shock was felt in Martinez at
ten minutes of eight o'clock yesterday morning.
The Congregational church at Eden Plain has been removed to Brent-
wood, where it will be occupied by the Methodist Episcopal congregation,
who bought it.
The Antioch Lodge of Good Templars now has a membership of 150
and is about to establish a reading-room for the public.
Articles of incorporation of the Nevada Warehouse & Dock Com-
pany, capitalization $500,000, were filed this week.
Murphy & Cavanaugh will open their new store at Concord on April
2, with the greatest display of goods ever exhibited in the town.
April 7, 1883. — The Antioch Town Hall was ready for occupancy
this week.
A Council of the American Legion of Honor will be instituted at
Crockett this evening by Deputy Grand Commander S. B. Thompson
of Martinez.
May 5, 1883. — Starr & Company, milling corporation, are building
a 4000-barrel mill and large wharves for wheat shipping, and a warehouse
to hold over 100,000 tons at the wheat port on the south side of Carquinez
Straits.
May 5, 1883. — The first annual meeting of the Contra Costa County
Grangers' Warehousing and Business Association, under new articles of
incorporation, was held last Wednesday at the Alhambra Grange Hall
in Martinez, and was attended by nearly all the stockholders who repre-
sent Alhambra, Walnut Creek and Danville granges.
May 19, 1883. — A meeting of the Martinez Gun Club was held in
the office of Justice F. M. Smith last Saturday evening, with President H.
Weatherby in the chair. A constitution and by-laws were adopted.
June 2, 1883. — A fine stream of water was struck in the tunnel of
the Martinez Water Company Tuesday, a distance of twenty-seven feet
from the mouth of the tunnel. There are now two streams running from
the tunnel and the indications are that a still greater abundance will be
found. The water is of fine quality and comes out through the rock
crevices with a force that indicates an immense pressure behind it.
June 9, 1883. — A brass band has been organized by a number of
young men at Point of Timber and Byron.
The first direct rail shipment for the Grangers' Warehouse by new
switch connection, was made to Port Costa, of 150 tons of wheat stored
and sold by R. O. Baldwin of San Ramon Valley.
Another fine stream of water was struck in the tunnel of the Martinez
Water Company. There are now three streams of excellent water.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 261
At a meeting of the Contra Costa County Agricultural Society held
at Pacheco last Saturday, it was resolved that the society become a mem-
ber of the National Trotting Association. This will give the society an
opportunity to govern the conduct of drivers and parties entering horses
for races.
June 16, 1883. — Nelson Peterson, of Antioch, has been granted a
patent for an improved road cart.
E. W. Hiller started out his ice wagon this week through Pacheco,
Concord, Walnut Creek, Alamo and Danville.
Over 30,000 gallons per day is now running from the tunnel of the
Martinez Water Company, and prospects are good for doubling that
amount in a few days.
A recent census of the Martinez School District shows 126 boys and
117 girls between the ages of 5 and 17, nine less than for last year.
June 23, 1883. — A barn on the ranch of N. W. Smith, near Antioch,
was struck by a whirlwind one day last week and completely destroyed, one
piece of the roof being carried forty yards.
July 14, 1883. — The results of wheat-threshing in the county, so far
reported, indicate a shrinkage and loss of forty per cent from effects of
the early June hot spells.
July 28, 1883. — George W. McNear has purchased the El Hambre
Ranch interests of W. A. Piper for $100,000.
The Nevada Dock warehouses took their first grain for storage a
few days ago.
Report of grain production in Point of Timber shows the turnout of
a few fields :
A. Richardson 165 acres 1,500 lbs.
A. Porter 75 acres 1,900 lbs.
S. M. Wills 110 acres 840 lbs.
J. Geddes 400 acres 850 lbs.
George Cople ..200 acres 840 lbs.
A.V.Taylor 78 acres 1,725 lbs.
J. S. Netherton 47 acres 1,350 lbs.
J. M. Baldwin 300 acres 1,650 lbs.
Volney Taylor 125 acres 1,720 lbs.
The larger returns are the result of thorough cultivation, the shallow
plowing giving the best returns in quality and quantity.
W. P. Netherton, after his harvest vacation, has returned to Oakland
to continue his high school studies.
September 1, 1883. — The first ship to load at Nevada Dock ware-
houses, the Euterpe, 1197 tons, was docked there last Tuesday. The sec-
ond ship docked Thursday.
The Grangers' warehouses at Martinez are filling up with grain, and
nearly all storage room has been engaged.
262 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
September 8, 1883. — The twentieth anniversary of Pacheco Lodge
No. 117, I. O. O. F., will be held at the Fair Grounds next Wednesday
at ten o'clock a. m.
September 15, 1883. — R. O. Baldwin, of San Ramon, took first prize
at the Golden Gate Fair in the "horses of all work" class for his stallion,
"Gold Hill." Capt. J. E. Durham, of Pacheco, took one of the premiums
in the Roadster Stallion class for his colt, "McVeagh."
September 15. — Two church services were held for the first time last
Sunday at Port Costa.
October 6, 1883. — There is much reason to fear that our Mount
Diablo coal mines, that have for the past twenty years furnished so large
a portion of the steam-making fuel of the State, will be unable much long-
er to maintain a competition with the fine large coal veins of Oregon and
Washington.
It is understood that orders were received at Somersville to discon-
tinue all mining in the Pittsburgh Mine and take out all underground
machinery and tracks. In the Black Diamond Mine at Nortonville work
has been retarded by a heavy inflow of water, which overtaxes the pump-
ing machinery, and the owners are making no move to remedy the situa-
tion as it now exists.
A deplorable lack of interest was shown by the farmers in the slim
attendance at the Twenty-third Exhibition of the Contra Costa County
Agricultural, Horticultural, and Mechanical Society at the Fair Grounds
near Pacheco.
October 13, 1883. — The pumps of the Black Diamond coal mine have
got the heavy flow of water reduced and under control so that work has
been resumed in full force.
The earthquake of last Tuesday morning was the liveliest since 1868.
It occurred a few minutes after one o'clock a. m., lasting three seconds.
October 27, 1883. — The Contra Costa Telephone Company have let
the contract to run an extension of their line through Nortonville, Som-
ersville, and Stewartville to Antioch. It is but a few weeks ago that their
line was extended to Oakland and San Francisco, giving direct connec-
tion with those cities and with San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Haywards.
A Sabbath school was successfully organized at Port Costa last Sun-
day. Preaching was held in the evening and is to be continued regularly.
November 3, 1883. — The Pittsburg coal mine has been closed per-
manently.
A lamp-post and large lamp have been placed at the corner of the
Court House lot near the entrance on Main Street.
November 10, 1883. — A telephone has been ordered placed in the
sheriff's office by the board of supervisors for the use of the county.
Walnut Creek Hook & Ladder Company now possess a fine cart fully
equipped.
The business portion of the town of Port Costa was almost entirely
destroyed by fire. The business portion was a line of wooden buildings
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 263
along the water's edge, every building resting on piles. Fire rapidly spread
towards McNear's warehouse, taking every building in its path.
The wharf was also damaged, and several thousand bushels of wheat
and eight cars. The loss is only partly covered by insurance. Four hotels,
three saloons, eight freight cars and eighty tons of wheat were destroyed.
November 17, 1883. — Mr. Ipswich, late purchaser of the Centennial
Hotel, has had a force of carpenters and painters repairing and renovating
the building.
The Hook & Ladder Company of Concord have appointed a com-
mittee to receive bids for the erection of a handsome hall.
December 1, 1883. — Charles B. Porter, for eighteen years editor of
the Gazette, has disposed of his interest in the paper.
The Pacific Coast Steel & Iron Manufacturing Company desire to
locate in Martinez if they can sell $50,000 of stock here, which is offered
at half-price.
The California Redwood Company filed notice of application for a
wharf franchise. They have bought twenty acres near Pinole for their
yards. They desire a franchise on the water's edge.
December 8, 1883. — The Petroleum Refining & Developing Company
has incorporated for the purpose indicated by the title. The principal
place of business is Haywards. It is claimed that first-quality petroleum
has been discovered in the Livermore Mountains and development work
is soon to begin.
The Commercial Hotel was opened to the public Monday evening,
and a large number of people took advantage of the occasion to inspect
the establishment. There is certainly no hotel in the county superior to
the Commercial. The proprietor, J. Ipswich, spread a sumptuous supper
for his guests.
From 3500 to 4000 tons of coal per month are being taken out of
the Empire Mine.
December 13, 1883. — This week's weather has been cold, foggy and
disagreeable. Ice and fog is a condition we seldom have in Martinez.
D. P. Griffin has bought a half-interest in the Pacheco Flour Mills.
The farmers of the Danville section look for a dry year and have
stopped plowing, as the ground is very hard.
A. C. Tichnor, of Los Angeles, claims to have invented an electrical
process which will do away with telephone and telegraph wires and poles.
[Query: Was this an early experiment in wireless telegraphy?]
December 22, 1883. — A meeting of subscribers and others interested
in the proposed new steel works at Martinez will be held at the Exchange
Hotel this afternoon at two o'clock.
The total amount of real estate sales for the last five months of 1883,
through the office of Matthews & Sayre, amounted to $167,450.
December 29, 1883. — Rainfall to date 2.13 inches. The farmers
generally have resumed plowing.
264 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
At a meeting of the State Teachers' Association in San Francisco this
week, D. J. Sullivan of San Pablo was placed on the Committee of Nom-
inations.
Port Costa is being rapidly rebuilt. Several houses have been erected
and others are going up. The new Catholic church is nearly completed.
The Point of Timber Landing Company are engaged in constructing
a canal, thirty-six feet wide and four and a half feet deep, from a point
in the slough near their old wharf, where their buildings are located.
It is to be about 4000 feet long. At the ordinary high tide this will fur-
nish over six feet of water, and at low tide two feet.
Ninety-six trains per day run over the road between Port Costa and
Oakland.
January, 1884. — The year 1883 was ushered in by a remarkable snow-
storm; New Year's Day, 1884, was mild and pleasant.
Contra Costa County began the new year with $118,946.76 in its
treasury.
The tunnel of the Martinez Water Company is now in 300 feet, and
prospects for additional water grow gradually better.
January 26, 1884. — The American Exchange Hotel, corner Main and
Wyatt Streets, in Antioch, was entirely destroyed by fire early last Mon-
day morning. John Griffin, son of the owner of the hotel, and Patrick
Hines, a section-hand, perished in the flames. The hotel was built in
1871 by Patrick Griffin, but was destroyed by fire the same year. It was
rebuilt of brick, being the only brick hotel building in the county.
February 2, 1884. — Rainfall to date, 6.12 inches.
St. Patrick's Church, at Port Costa, will be dedicated tomorrow.
Everybody is smiling this week on account of the rain. The farmers
and merchants are all happy. Up to Friday noon of this week 3.36 inches
of rain had fallen at Martinez. Other sections benefitted in like manner.
February 9, 1884: — The following notice was presented and adopted
at a meeting of the Pacific Coast Steel & Iron Manufacturing Company,
held at Melrose :
"Notice is hereby given to all whom it may concern, that in pursuance
of the written consent of the stockholders of two-thirds of the capital
stock of the Pacific Coast Steel & Iron Manufacturing Company, and
which consent is in writing and duly filed in the office of the said company,
that the office and the principal place of business of the Pacific Coast
Steel & Iron Manufacturing Company will be changed from Melrose,
Alameda County, to the town of Martinez, Contra Costa County, Cali-
fornia, and that hereafter said office and place of business of said Com-
pany will be at Martinez aforesaid."
February 9, 1884. — The Catholics of Lafayette, Moraga Valley,
Alamo and Walnut Creek are preparing to erect a church not far from
Walnut Creek.
February 23, 1884. — A large force of men and teams are at work
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 265
on the foundation of the new steel works. The buildings and machinery
are to cost over $110,000.
During the past week there have been eight ships loading at the Ne-
vada Docks, and seventeen at Port Costa.
The Antioch Ledger was revived last week as a Democratic paper,
Charles F. Montgomery being its new editor and proprietor. The Ledger
makes a good showing on its local page, and its editorial columns are
original and interesting.
Vincent Hook has purchased the Fish Ranch between Martinez and
Pacheco, containing over 1000 acres.
March 8, 1884. — Up to ten o'clock Friday afternoon the rainfall at
Martinez had amounted to 1.68 inches, making a total for the* season of
12.19 inches.
March IS, 1884. — The total rainfall for the season is now 16.25
inches.
March 15, 1884. — The Gazette has purchased another job press,
making four now in operation.
The efforts of the Martinez Water Company have been rewarded.
Now 62,000 gallons daily come from Maraschi Canyon, six miles from
town. The tunnel is in 360 feet. Five or six miles of pipe will be required,
and its fall will be 800 feet. A reservoir will be built on the hills near
Martinez and the water piped into town.
March 22, 1884. — The damage to crops on Roberts Island by the
breaking of the levee is estimated at $500,000.
Six thousand sacks of wheat were shipped by car this week from the
Grangers' warehouse here to the Grangers' warehouse on the Straits.
Treat & Whitman, experienced horticulturists, are setting out from
eighty to one hundred acres in fruit trees and vines on their place in Ygna-
cio Valley.
March 29, 1884. — A severe earthquake was felt in this county on
Tuesday, at seventeen minutes to five o'clock p. m., followed by a slight
shock one hour later. The quake seems to have been quite general
throughout the State. In San Francisco brick buildings were cracked in
many places.
April 5, 1884. — A question now before the citizens of Martinez is
that of incorporating. It is believed the proper time has arrived for
such a move.
The month of March had 8.50 inches rainfall.
April 19, 1884. — The new El Dorado Hotel at Antioch opened last
week.
The Concord Sun has gone into an eclipse; whether partial or total
is not known.
E. W. Hiller has secured the Antioch ice-house for this season
and is now prepared to furnish ice at that point.
May 10, 1884. — Martinez is to be incorporated under the general
laws.
266 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Today the first run of steel will be made at the works to test the cupo-
las and to see that everything is in running order.
The new Presbyterian church at Walnut Creek is going up rapidly.
The Steel Company is making molds and shells for castings. The
men engaged in the work are experienced and skilful.
It seems to be definitely settled that Moore & Smith will locate their
extensive lumber yards here in Martinez during the summer.
Work progresses on the California and Nevada narrow gauge, and
it will reach Walnut Creek this summer.
May 31, 1884. — Oakland and Carquinez Railway Company filed ar-
ticles of incorporation with the county clerk of Alameda County, with a
capital of $500,000. The projected road will run from Oakland harbor
over the San Antonio range of hills to Moraga Valley, Contra Costa
County, and thence to the Straits of Carquinez.
News from Crockett and Wheatport state that the Sunday school
has an average attendance of forty; the public school, an attendance of
thirty-five. Two dwellings have been erected, a variety store opened,
and a new butcher shop put in operation. Heald's Agricultural Ware-
house is going full blast, and Starr's' Mill is completed to the second story.
The assessment roll of the county will probably foot up between $12,-
000,000 and $13,000,000 this year.
A new tannery is about to be started near Martinez by two Benicia
men. The schooner Columbus is here with a cargo of bark for the en-
terprise.
The new officers of Martinez, elected May 3 1 : F. M. Warmcastle,
Samuel Robin, Dr. H. Bernett, Dr. John Leffler, trustees; John O'B.
Wyatt, clerk; J. J. Jones, treasurer; Frank Pitts, marshal. There was
a tie vote for the fifth member of the board of trustees between J. H.
Borland and Henry Potter, and it was declared neither was elected.
June 14, 1884. — The rainfall brought the total up to 24.23 inches.
San Ramon Hotel will be opened today as a first-class country hotel,
with Joseph Raster, proprietor; Joseph Willard will be the manager.
The rain damaged the hay crop of the entire State, and much of the
heavy grain is badly damaged. The loss in the State will run up into the
millions.
June 21, 1884. — -J. H. Borland was declared elected the fifth member
of the board of trustees of Martinez at a special election.
A run of 10,000 pounds was made at the steel works last Monday.
Matthews and Sayre sold during the last twelve months more than
8049 acres, totaling $372,500, and making an average price of $46 per
acre. This means the development of ranch property and new settlers.
July 12, 1884. — The new Congregational church at Stewartville will
be ready for occupancy in ten days.
The old and new fire organizations of Martinez were consolidated
at a meeting Tuesday evening at the court house. President, L. C. Wit-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 267
tenmyer; foreman, Neal Hurley; treasurer, James Braire ; treasurer, J.
H. Borland; secretary, J. O'B. Wyatt.
Report of Superintendent Borland, of Contra Costa Telephone Com-
pany: 54 miles of line; 34 instruments; balance on hand, $384.08.
August 9, 1884. — The board of supervisors have engaged William
Minto and T. A. McMahon to draw a correct county map.
August 16, 1884. — The dedication of Bennett's new hall was a grand
success.
Blaine and Logan Clubs are being organized all over the county.
September 6, 1884. — The display of fruits, vegetables, cereals, etc.,
from this county in San Francisco made by Matthews & Sayre equaled
any display ever made there and was in many respects superior to similar
exhibits from other counties heretofore made, and yet the fruit repre-
sented but a few of our best orchards. Among those who contributed were
Messrs. Raap, McBride, Dr. Strentzel, Fish, Dudley, Sickal, Thomas,
John Gambs, Dick and Dukes. Following is a list of the products ex-
hibited: Grapes — seedless, Sultanas, Sweet Water, Rose of Peru, Flaming
Tokay, Zinfandel, Muscat, Palestine, Mission, Victor, Black Hamburgs,
and Golden Chasselas; numerous varieties of peaches, pears, plums, ap-
ples, oranges, lemons, cucumbers and melons; wheat, seven feet high;
barley and oats, nine feet high; rye; chestnuts; corn with six ears to a
stalk and fourteen feet high.
The Twenty-fourth Annual Fair of Contra Costa County Agricul-
tural, Horticultural and Mechanical Society was held at Pacheco Sep-
tember 8 to 13.
The county was treated to a fine rain Sunday night. Very little dam-
age was done, as the threshing was practically finished.
Thirteen schooners were loaded with hay and grain at Antioch this
week by W. A. Brunkhorst.
Bray Brothers have shipped 2557 bales of hay this week.
September 27, 1884. — The fleet of the Pacific Yacht Club will visit
Martinez today.
The amount of wheat received at Bray's each day amounts to from
forty to fifty tons.
October 4, 1884. — There was a sharp frost in the San Ramon Valley
Thursday morning.
October 18, 1884. — Construction work on the new Congregational
church building at Crockett has begun.
During the past week the rainfall in the county has been 1.13 inches.
November 22, 1884. — Over sixty men are at work excavating and
grading for the site of the new Selby's Lead Works, a short distance be-
low Vallejo Junction. This large enterprise will add to the business and
wealth of the county.
December 6, 1884. — Eight street lamps were placed in position this
week in Martinez at advantageous points. These lamps will give suffi-
268 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
cient light for all present purposes, as there are several private street
lamps which will continue to be used.
The great event at Point of Timber last week was the opening of the
Landing Company's Canal, which is three-quarters of a mile long cut
through the tules from Indian Slough to the company's yard on the main-
land. The stock is all owned by residents of Point of Timber. A schooner
with 50,000 feet of lumber is expected in the canal in a few days.
The first new sidewalk on the official grade in Martinez was con-
structed this week by Robin & Maloche in front of their blacksmith shop
on Main Street.
December 17, 1884. — William P. Netherton, oldest son of J. S.
Netherton, graduated from Oakland High School last week.
On December 17 the Byron Hotel burned; insurance, $7000.
December 20, 1884. — It is stated that the Black Diamond coal mine
will shut down within a few weeks owing to operating expenses.
January 3, 1885. — A new sidewalk has been placed, leading to the
Court House.
January 17, 1885. — Articles of incorporation of the Antioch & Men-
docino Lumber Company have been filed with the Secretary of State;
paid up capital, $200,000. Antioch is to be made the forwarding point
for all kinds of lumber on the Southern Pacific.
January 24, 1885. — The Martinez Water Company has proved a
success. An abundance of water, sufficient to supply a city of 20,000, has
been obtained. The work has been carried on by John and Harry Porter,
who back their faith by their work. The tunnel is 900 feet long and is
situated 840 feet above Martinez.
January 31, 1885. — Rainfall to date, 8.19 inches.
At Port Costa all the wharves are lined with ships, and wheat is being
poured out of car, warehouse and barge for nine hours daily, six days of
the week. Many of the ships work three gangs at once.
February 21, 1885. — The Empire Mine is shipping 125 tons of coal
per day.
A tax was voted at Crockett for a new school building; fifty votes solid.
The Three Brothers, the second largest ship afloat under sail, loaded
45,000 sacks of wheat this week at Port Costa.
March 7, 1885. — The marriage certificate of W. P. Netherton and
Maggie M. Glassford was filed this week.
The new Catholic church at Pinole will be dedicated March 8 by the
Most Reverend Archbishop Riordan.
March 14, 1885. — Lumber is being hauled for a new large "Cash
Store" building in Martinez, to be built for L. M. Lasell, of Nortonville.
March 28, 1885. — A meeting for the organization of a N. S. G. W.
Parlor at Martinez was called for Monday evening at the office of Jus-
tice F. M. Smith.
General Canby Post No. 78, G. A. R., organized in Martinez, is the
first organized by Civil War soldiers in the county. G. W. Bowie is Com-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 269
mander: M. H. Bailhache, Senior Vice; O. L. Marsh, Junior Vice; R. N.
Doyle, Q. M.; Dr. H. Bernett, Surgeon; Harry Heinz, Chaplain; George
H. Wellington, Officer of the Guard; and A. L. Gartley, Adjutant.
The first passenger train on the narrow gauge left Oakland at nine
o'clock Sunday morning with a number of officials and invited guests on
board, and made the trip to San Pablo and return. All were pleased with
the smoothness of the road.
April 18, 1885. — A communication of the Water Company, offering
to sell its works to the town for $25,000, was received and laid over until
April 28.
The Martinez Warehouse property, the warehouses and real estate
on Pacheco Creek, schooners Martinez and Melrose, and the steamship
Tulare, now located in Martinez, all being a portion of the assets of the
estate of W. A. Bray (Bray Brothers), will be sold at 226 Clay Street,
San Francisco, today to the highest bidder. The sale is under the direc-
tion of assignees, C. A. Knox and Frank Otis.
April 25, 1885. — At the sale of the Martinez Warehouse property,
Blum & Company of Martinez put in the highest bid, and the property
was sold to them. They will soon remove their offices to the old Bray
offices.
May 16, 1885. — The following schooners arrived at Martinez this
week for Blum & Company: The Christina Stephens, with a cargo of
7500 posts; the John McCullough, with 120,000 feet redwood; the Mar-
tinez, with a load of bricks; and the Melrose, with a load of coal, lime
and lumber.
The furniture and fixtures of the late Good Templars Lodge in Mar-
tinez were sold at auction on May 23 by W. A. J. Gift.
A Chapter of R. A. M. was recently instituted in Antioch.
The dedication of the new Pythian Castle of Black Diamond Lodge
No. 29, K. of P., of Martinez, will take place on June 5, upon which occa-
sion a grand ball will be given. This lodge has erected a fine two-story
structure on Main Street.
The Martinez Cash Store and Wholesale Grocery, Lasell & Com-
pany, proprietors, will be opened to the public Monday morning.
Mr. Norris, of Concord, is laying a real city sidewalk around his
premises, constructed of cobblestones from the quarry near town. Other
property owners please take the hint.
William Thomas has had erected, at his own expense, a water-foun-
tain on Main Street at the Knights of Pythias corner for the benefit of
the public. The water comes from a spring on his father's premises and
is of good quality.
June 6, 1885.; — The thermometer reached 100 degrees in the shade
Friday, the 29th of May, at Walnut Creek.
July 4, 1885. — Of the $38,000 bonded indebtedness of the county,
$9000 has been paid, leaving $29,000 still outstanding.
270 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The residence of John Murphy, near Concord, was burned Sunday
morning, with a loss of $3000.
The firm of Matthews & Sayre has dissolved, Mr. Sayre going to
Lakeport. Mr. Matthews has united with Easton & Eldridge of San
Francisco under the firm name of Pacific Coast Land Bureau, and will
remain in Martinez as agent of the bureau. Since coming here Mr.
Matthews has been active in selling lands for his company. The first
year 8049 acres passed through their hands and sold for $372,500. The
second year 14,973 acres were sold for $838,532.
July 25, 1885. — The Gazette is dressed in mourning out of respect
to General Grant.
August 1, 1885. — Up to yesterday forty-five schooner-loads of hay,
12,000 bales, had been shipped this season from Blum & Company's ware-
house.
Preparations are under way for the Twenty-fifth Annual Exhibit of
the County Fair. The Grangers of Contra Costa are discussing the pro-
priety of combining for making a general display of farm products.
The Martinez postoffice has been raised to the dignity of a third-
class salaried office.
Our warehouse capacity is shown in the subjoined table, which in-
cludes all the warehouses in the county except that of the State Grangers'
Business Association located on the Straits:
G. W. McNear, Port Costa 42,000 tons
Contra Costa County Grangers', Martinez 6,200 tons
Starr & Company, Crockett 50,000 tons
Blum & Company, Martinez, (two grain warehouses) .... 2,700 tons
Blum & Company, Martinez, (two hay warehouses) 900 tons
Blum & Company, Pacheco, (two grain warehouses) 2,550 tons
Blum & Company, Pacheco, (two hay warehouses) 500 tons
Blum & Company, San Pablo 1,500 tons
Blum & Company, Brentwood 2,500 tons
Blum & Company, Byron 1,500 tons
B. Fernandez, Pinole 3,400 tons
Nevada Warehouse & Dock 90,000 tons
Contra Costa County Grangers', Crockett 10,000 tons
Total warehouse capacity for County 213,750 tons
August 29, 1885. — The bell for the Congregational church arrived
a few days ago. It weighs 900 pounds.
September 5, 1885. — The County Fair will open Monday on the
grounds of the society near Pacheco.
September 12, 1885. — Dr. Strentzel shipped this week a large assort-
ment of fruit to the Louisville Exposition and will continue shipments
during the Fair.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 271
The Alhambra Grange of Martinez will celebrate its eleventh anni-
versary at Grange Hall next Saturday afternoon by a harvest festival.
Entries at the County Fair were almost one-half less than last year.
September 19, 1885. — A small distillery outfit was captured above
Antioch by United States officers.
M. Cohen, of Danville, announces that on account of ill health he
will sell his business and retire.
September 26, 1885. — Patrick Brown was appointed supervisor for
District No. 4, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John D. Bowen.
The sale of delinquent steel stock took place Saturday at the office
in the Gazette Building. . . . The amount received on the assessments
will pay all debts of the county. An offer has been accepted from a Stock-
ton man to rent the building for a foundry, but he has not qualified as yet.
Thomas & Baldwin have fitted up a drug store in the new Fernandez
Hotel building.
October 3, 1885. — Dr. Strentzel has succeeded in getting grapes to
Eastern markets safely. The fruit was carefully packed in carbonized
bran, which appears to have answered the purpose. He packed four
boxes in a different manner and shipped them as an experiment.
The Cook ranch stock, which has won premiums at the Golden Gate,
State and Stockton Fairs, were returned to the ranch Monday.
The board of directors of Martinez Free Library and Reading Room
met last Tuesday evening, organized, and elected the following officers:
A. Tait, president; Miss Maggie McMahon, treasurer; Miss Alice Bush,
secretary; John L. Chase, librarian. It was determined to open a read-
ing room at once, and the public was invited to make use of its privileges.
There are but few residents remaining in Nortonville. Somersville is
a little better situated, as the Rankin mine is still working. Just now
the outlook for coal is not very bright.
At Selby's Smelting Works about $30,000 in gold and 30,000 ounces
of silver are being handled each day. The well at the works is now down
620 feet.
On the night of October 6, the Orinda Park School was destroyed by
fire, the work of an incendiary, no doubt.
Martin Bonzagni has purchased the interest of his partner in the
soda works at Pacheco and will conduct the business alone.
November 14, 1885. — The new Congregational church was dedi-
cated Sunday at Martinez, and C. S. Vaile was installed as pastor.
November 21, 1885. — The warehouses at Port Costa are about filled
with wheat, most of which is being loaded into ships direct from the cars.
Point of Timber rejoices over another rain.
The Landing Company have gotten through the first year of their
canal, as boats come and go without getting stuck in mud.
Byron Hotel, built on the ruins of the old one, is about completed
and adds much to the appearance of the town.
272 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
D. R. Thomas, of Martinez, will soon commence tunneling for water
in the hills on his own premises near town. He already has two tunnels,
one 184 feet and the other over 200 feet long, and during the summer
he has supplied several with good water. He proposes to extend the
tunnels and run two more. If he can furnish Martinez with one-fourth
of the water required, it will be a benefit.
The new county map was completed a few weeks ago and accepted
by the supervisors. It is an admirable work and will prove valuable for
reference and general information regarding the outlines of the county,
its water-front, roads, rivers and creeks, boundaries, grants, towns and
general topography.
The marriage of Miss Baudelia Soto and A. J. Galindo, Jr., was cele-
brated December 13, 1885.
December 26, 1885. — Martinez Cornet Band has been organized
with the following members : A. E. Blum, G. Shirley, T. A. McMahon,
J. L. Chase, A. J. Soto, F. Berryessa, W. A. Hale, R. Harvard, F. M.
Smith, Henry Curry and W. R. Matthews. Prof. Fred Schmidt, of Stock-
ton, was engaged as instructor.
January 1, 1886. — Rainfall to date, 13.83 inches. The farmers in
the county are anxiously waiting for the ground to get dry enough to plow.
Business transacted at the Depot in Martinez for December: Shipped
to San Francisco, 81,700 pounds of barley, 2 cows, 2 calves, 2 horses,
1000 pounds dried fruit, 3980 pounds wine, 11,500 pounds grape fruit,
719,186 pounds wheat; to Port Costa, 146,200 pounds barley; to Oak-
land, 5 bulls; to San Jose, 83,120 pounds general merchandise. Received,
360,000 pounds general merchandise.
January 9, 1866. — The Fernandez Hotel has been leased by H. R.
Wright for five years.
W. R. Matthews is canvassing the town to see what chance there is
of the citizens' subscribing for a gas company, with proposed capital of
$50,000. If that amount is raised, M. G. Elmore of San Francisco will
subscribe $20,000.
The Martinez Free Library and Reading Room opened October 7,
and began with 130 books; there are now 300 books, in addition to maga-
zines and other periodicals. The room used is donated by Dr. Strentzel.
Walnut Creek has the honor of starting the anti-Chinese movement
in this county. A meeting was held on January 27.
John Gambs, of Pacheco, has over 13,000 gallons of wine stored in
his cellar.
Selby's Smelting Works use over 400 tons of coal per month.
Antioch's new postmaster, ex-Sheriff D. P. McMahon, took charge
of the office on January 25.
February 6, 1886. — The Martinez Hotel, in the Fernandez Building,
was opened to the public Tuesday evening. A grand ball was held Fri-
day evening.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 273
February 13, 1886. — An anti-Chinese meeting is called for Monday
evening at the Court House.
There was a slight earthquake felt Wednesday evening at nine-thirty
o'clock.
■Charles Ludden is making a lot of gymnasium apparatus for the
Martinez schoolyard, for the boys and girls. The children should be
supplied with all needful appliances for obtaining healthful exercise.
Contra Costa County is destined to become a paradise of vineyards
and orchards, of which Ygnacio and Diablo Valleys will be the central
portion.
Mrs. Corbett, the postmistress, has decided to move into the new
Martinez Hotel building, and a large corner room is being fitted up for
the office.
March 30, 1886. — Brentwood is booming right along and will be a
lively town this summer.
Dr. H. V. Mott has been appointed postmaster at Brentwood.
A branch of the Y. M. I. is being organized in Martinez. Father
Aerden has been made temporary president, and Will Lawlers, secretary.
Curry & Jones have secured the contract for carrying the mail over
the route from Martinez through Pacheco, Concord, Antioch, Judson-
ville, Stewartville, Somersville, and Nortonville, for the next four years.
The California and Nevada Railroad Company have put on trains
between San Pablo and Oakland. They will soon connect up San Pablo
Creek with the Walnut Creek stage.
April 3, 1886. — The new Methodist Episcopal church at Lafayette
will be dedicated tomorrow.
The fare from San Francisco to Stockton is ten cents via the river
boats. The fare from Port Costa to Stockton via the Southern Pacific
is $2.30.
April 10, 1886.- — An exciting baseball match took place at Martinez
Sunday between the "Courthouse Gang" and the "Down Town Chumps."
Seven innings were played and the final score was 35 to 18 in favor of
the Chumps. The game was enjoyed by both participants and spectators.
April 17, 1886. — -Y. M. I. No. 25 was organized Sunday at the
Catholic church, with 50 charter members. James Kenna was elected
president.
Up to May 1, 1886, the seasonal rainfall is 23.48 inches.
B. J. Murphy has been appointed postmaster for Concord, and Mrs.
A. Guyeth for Walnut Creek.
W. R. Matthews has started a movement for holding a fair in
Martinez during the stay of the G. A. R. visitors in San Francisco, about
the middle of August, for the purpose of displaying the various resources
of the county. At the conclusion of the fair the exhibits are to be taken
to San Francisco and displayed there. Every farmer in the county is
requested to make exhibits of everything raised from the soil.
274 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
May 22, 1886. — The Pacific Yacht Club will sail up to Martinez
tomorrow.
Ninety degrees in the shade Sunday.
John Conway has been appointed postmaster at Danville.
Justice of the Peace F. M. Smith and Miss Libbie Tibbetts were
united in marriage Thursday morning, May 20, 1886, by Judge A. Van
R. Paterson.
A new warehouse for Blum & Company is being erected at Bay Point,
upon the site of the old one that was blown down two years ago. The
new building is 150 by 44 feet. They will also erect a small station house,
as Bay Point is a flag-station.
May 29, 1886.— W. B. Thomas has purchased E. W. Hiller's ice
business.
Vessels at Nevada Dock are storing away grain at the rate of 100
car-loads per day. The accumulation of cars on Tuesday was 450.
June 12, 1886. — The El Cierbo Hotel at Selby was opened on Satur-
day, June 5, with a grand ball. The proprietor, Mr. Pickford, is to be
congratulated on his well-appointed place.
June 19, 1886. — Mrs. B. J. Murphy has been appointed postmaster
at Concord.
An interesting game of ball was played Sunday at the new recreation
grounds in Martinez between the Haymakers of Clayton and the 2nd
nine of the Martinez club. The score was 16-17 in favor of Martinez.
June 26, 1886. — The new schoolhouse at Port Costa is finished, and
reflects credit on Mr. Casey, chairman of the board of trustees, and Mr.
O'Donnell, the contractor. It is located near the old building on a lot
75 by 100 feet.
Amount of tax levied $3,750.00
Losses from various sources 1,102.00
$2,648.00
Cost of building $1,600.00
Cost of lot 1,000.00
Fencing, etc 298.00
July 10, 1886. — For the first time since 1854, when Colonel Baker
delivered a thrilling oration, the Fourth of July was celebrated in Martinez
in a manner worthy of the day and its associations. Nearly every building
in town was decorated and every individual exerted himself to add to
the temporary attractions. A fine procession wended its way through
the principal streets, headed by Grand Marshal L. C. Wittenmyer and his
aides, A. J. Soto, Myrtel Blum, Frank Glass and James Briare. The floats
were numerous and well named. The principal address was made by
General G. W. Bowie. An oration by Judge Paterson was also delivered.
Two baseball games were played: One between Clayton and Martinez,
with a score of 21 to 15 in favor of Martinez; and one between the
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 275
Martinez Club and the Hofberg Club of Pacheco, with a score of 4 to
5 in favor of Hofberg. The day ended with fire works and a grand ball.
July 17, 1886.- — The Concord postoffice made a Money Order.
The narrow gauge has bought six new passenger coaches and two
locomotives, which are to be put on the new lines from Oakland to
Temescal.
The losses sustained from the extensive grain fires in Sycamore Valley
were: Charles Wood, $2000; D. Sherburne, $300; J. D. Smith, $100;
John Camp, $250; besides damages to pastures of the first two named.
July 31, 1886. — The new wagon road was completed July 30 from
Martinez to Port Costa at a cost of $668 per mile. The contractor lost
$137 on the job. The road will be continued on to Crockett.
August 7, 1886. — On Tuesday Judge T. A. Brown sent his resignation
to Governor Stoneman, to take effect October 1, 1886. In July, 1885, he
was stricken with paralysis while attending to the duties of his office.
September 4, 1886. — Work began on macadamizing Main and
Ferry Street, of Martinez, Tuesday morning. It will take from sixty to
seventy-five days to complete the contract.
The California raisin crop for this year is estimated at 600,000 boxes.
September 18, 1886. — The Fair was very successful and reflects credit
upon Contra Costa County.
The delegates of the Congregational churches of Solano and Contra
Costa Counties held their conference in the Congregational church at
Martinez.
J. J. Jones, of the Alhambra Poultry Yards, received premiums at the
State Fair for the best breeding hens of Dark Brahmas, Buff Cochins,
Plymouth Rocks, Brown Leghorns., White Leghorns, one male and four
females each; the best Brown Leghorn cockerel and pullet; the best White
Leghorn cockerel and pullet; and the best Houdan cock and hen.
October 2, 1886. — The first shower of the season occurred Thursday.
Port Costa, October 9, 1886. — McNear is building a warehouse, 100
by 100 feet, between Burke's Hotel and the railroad. It is intended tor
storing hay, potatoes, etc., and will be fireproof.
Brentwood Lodge, No. 243, A. O. U. W., was installed Saturday
evening in Wristen's Hall by District Deputy Grand Master Frank Cole-
man and State Deputy Frank S. Poland.
Pierce Ryan, of Byron Hot Springs, is having an addition to the hotel
erected. It will be 150 feet long and two stories high.
October 23, 1886. — Judge Warmcastle received his commission Satur-
day and opened court Monday morning.
There will be a grand turnout this evening at Martinez to listen to
Hon. James McKenna and J. P. Abbott at Bennett's Hall. The Concord
Brass Band has been engaged for the occasion.
The Martinez town trustees have purchased a hook and ladder truck
for $225, the original cost of which was $600. About $30 will put it in
fine order.
276 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
November 13, 1886. — The Terry residence, near Clayton, was totally
destroyed by fire; estimated loss, $20,000, half of which is covered by
insurance.
A special election was held in Township No. 5. J. J. Burke was
elected.
January 15, 1887.- — The lower portion of Ferry Street is being
repaired by the railroad company.
The Port Costa Lumber Company is located at Valona, having ac-
quired Smith & Moore's business and franchises, one from Dr. Strentzel,
and one from Prof. John Muir, which includes the entire water-front
from Starr's Mills at Crockett to Vallejo Junction. A contract for
1500 feet of wharf, 200 feet wide, has been let. The company is a com-
bination of all the Oregon pine lumber interests of the Coast, and the
new yards will be the general coast distributing point.
January 22, 1887. — 3.68 inches of rain have fallen, as against 15
inches for 1886.
Feburary 5, 1887.— Mount Diablo Parlor No. 101, N. S. G. W., was
organized in the Odd Fellows Hall this week by C. M. Belshaw, of
Antioch. The following were elected: A. E. Dunkel, Past President; T.
A. McMahon, President; W. T. Wallace, Jr., C. Y. Brown, and James
Johnston, First, Second and Third Vice-Presidents; F. L. Glass, Re-
cording secretary; Guy Shirley, Financial Secretary; A. E. Blum, Treas-
urer; H. E. Curry, Marshal.
The twelve instruments for the new Cornet Band of Martinez ar-
rived Thursday.
February 12, 1887. — The snowstorm of Saturday was a surprise. Up
to yesterday noon we have had 7.47 inches of rain for the season. In
the interior of the county the rainfall has been much heavier.
The first ball of the Black Diamond football club will be held in
the Black Diamond Hall Tuesday evening.
Quite an exodus from the coal mines of this county to Washington
Territory has recently taken place.
That portion of Main Street one block below the bridge has been
macadamized and is now in fine shape.
March 5, 1887. — A Board of Trade was organized in Martinez
by an enthusiastic assemblage held in the courthouse Saturday evening.
The organization was fully perfected the following Thursday with 170
members. The following officers were elected: President, E. B. Smith;
vice-president, S. Blum; treas., Bank of Martinez; sec'y, Will Acton.
The following communication speaks for itself:
Los Angeles, Calif., March 8, 1887.
L. I. Fish, Esq., Martinez, Calif.
Dear Sir: The box of fine navel oranges, lemons, and limes came this
forenoon and are now doing duty in our show windows for Contra Costa
County. Have labeled them as you desire and given them the center front
of the window. They are very fine — no better anywhere. . . . Am glad
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 277
you thought to send limes in all stages of growth, as it effectually dis-
poses of the "frozen and snow-bound" business. ... A good many come
in and ask about them, etc. . . . Many say they will go north, where
they can get soil at a reasonable price, with rainfall and climate thrown in.
Yours truly,
(Signed) E. W. Giddings,
Agent, Central and Northern California
Immigration Association.
Over $2000 have been subscribed to make known our resources. A
general interest is manifested. The windows of the Board of Trade
room are gradually being filled with displays of products of the county.
Every variety of temperate and semi-tropical products is grown in Contra
Costa County — wheat, barley, alfalfa, fruit and vegetables. It has a
climate that is unexcelled. The tide of immigration is setting this way.
The Board of Trade numbers 200 members.
April 9, 1887. — The Board of Trustees of Martinez have determined
to take steps to recover the block in the eastern portion of the town
known as the Plaza. The block in question is claimed by S. Blum. The
object of the board is to have the court definitely determine the ownership.
The Plaza was a portion of the William Welch ranch. In 1851, when the
town was platted by the heirs through Joseph Swanson, their agent, F. M.
Warmcastle, Elam Brown, N. B. Smith, J. F. Williams, T. A. Brown, and
others, purchased lots adjoining the square, which was known as the Plaza
up to 1870.
April 16, 1887.— (Antioch Ledger) — N. W. Smith, of Lone Tree
Valley, has 1600 almond trees, five to seven years old; also, 400
French prune, 600 apricot, 150 peach, 100 plum, sixty fig, sixty apple
and pear, and twelve cherry trees.
May 7, 1887. — The old toll road from Redwood Canyon to East
Oakland may now be traveled free of charge, the franchise having expired.
3000 tons of rails will be required for the new double track between
Oakland and Port Costa. The track will be twenty-two miles long.
R. D. Thomas has purchased a tract of land in the flat south of town
for the purpose of boring for water. He is of the opinion that he can
furnish ample water for private and public use. He also believes that
he can furnish electric lights.
May 28, 1887.- — The trustees of the town met Tuesday evening and
granted a permit to D. R. Thomas to lay four-inch pipes in the streets
for supplying the town with water for a term of twenty years.
The annual meeting of the Contra Costa County Agricultural Society
was held in Concord on Saturday and plans for reorganization were made.
June 4, 1887. — Express offices were opened this week by Wells-Fargo
& Company in John Conway's store at Danville and in H. C. Hurst's store
at San Ramon.
Why use tugs? To the surprise of everybody in Martinez, the large
bark-rigged ship "Roswell Sprague," capacity 1000 tons, came up the
278 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Straits last Sunday under full sail in a spanking breeze and dropped anchor
off the head of Grangers' Wharf, having on board 600,000 feet of
cedar plank and timber for railroad bridges, tunnels, culverts, etc., being
constructed along the line.
Mr. Thomas' is now actively engaged in supplying the town with
water. He has seven wells on his tract in the flat, S l / 2 to 7 inches bore,
all connected with one main. His 50,000-gallon tank at the wells is full,
and his engine is at work every day pumping to the main reservoir. He
expects to have water in the town mains within a week.
July 2, 1887. — During the present week Mr. Thomas has placed
about 1500 feet of pipe leading water to the residences of E. R. Chase,
O. L. Morgan and Alexander Tait.
July 30, 1887. — Water rate fixed at $3.75 per month, per hydrant,
to be paid D. R. Thomas by the town of Martinez.
July 30, 1887.— Concord is to organize a Y. M. I. tomorrow.
Things are booming at Nevada Docks, Port Costa, Crockett, Valona
and Selby.
The postoffice at Moraga has been discontinued and its business trans-
ferred to Oakland.
A slight idea of the vast quanity of wheat going into the warehouses
may be gathered from the fact that 580 carloads arrived at Port Costa
in one night last week.
West Hill Water Works, owned by D. R. Thomas, will supply 20,000
gallons daily to the Southern Pacific Railway.
August 20, 1887. — The Martinez Hook & Ladder Company, headed
by the band, paraded the streets last evening and made a fine showing.
August 27, 1887. — The Martinez Gas Company will commence build-
ing their works Monday. A lot has been purchased from S. Blum &
Company of ample dimensions for their requirements. The stock of the
company is about all taken, and gas for Martinez is assured at three
dollars per thousand cubic feet.
Contra Costa wants telegraphic facilities.
September 10, 1887. — The boom has reached Byron and extensive
improvements are being made in that wide-awake and rapidly progressing
town. A new Congregational church, a commodious schoolhouse, and a
fine lumber yard have been erected, and the contractors have just com-
pleted the finest town hall in Contra Costa County.
The boom has struck Danville; two real estate offices have been opened,
and several of the old residents have sold out.
September 17, 1887. — The San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley
Railway Company was incorporated last Saturday, capital stock $10,000,-
000, for the purpose of carrying freight and passengers from a point at
or near Antioch, Contra Costa County, to a point near Rogers, Kern
County, 380 miles.
Work is being pushed rapidly on the gas works. A force of men are
engaged in laying pipe mains through the streets.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 279
October 1, 1887. — On Monday some twenty of the Martinez sports-
men signed their names for the purpose of organizing a gun club. The
following names were enrolled: Ed. Morgan, W. A. Hale, A. P. Nelson,
W. J. Douglas, George Gill, L. D. Anderson, E. J. Summerfield, T. S.
Davenport, A. E. Blum, George McMahon, J. P. Briare, Charles Hewitt,
Charles Wright, C. E. Curry, F. A. Hodapp, T. A. McMahon, R. A.
Fraser, Harry Moore, Frank. Prairo and Steve Bennett.
The new Methodist Episcopal church at Byron is rapidly nearing
completion.
Semi-annual report of Librarian:
Number of books in library 601
Number of paper-covered books 301
Number of books purchased since April . 84
Number of books donated since April 10
Average attendance at Reading Room 25
(Signed) Martha C. McMahon
Cash on hand for fiscal year ending on October 4,
1887 ' $ 37.05
Total expense for year $284.10
October 22, 1887. — Sixty-two teachers attended the Institute at
Concord.
The first meeting for the purpose of the organization of the stock-
holders of the Martinez Gas Company was held October 20. Dr. J.
Strentzel was elected president; R. R. Bunker, vice-president; Alex Bad-
lam, secretary; R. R. Thomas, treasurer.
November 5, 1887. — On Sunday evening, for the first time in its
history, gas was lighted in Martinez for public use.
The main streets have been macadamized. The West Hill Water
Works provide ample water. A fine fire company has been organized;
also the Martinez Brass Band.
November 19, 1887. — The fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Barber was celebrated November 14, 1887.
when about 140 of their personal friends, old and young, assembled at
the family homestead. Lunch tables were spread and filled with good
things to eat. A pleasant time was enjoyed by all.
The Thanksgiving ball given by the Martinez Military Band was a so-
cial and financial success. Tasty and elaborate decorations were made. A
novel grand march was a feature of the evening. A large attendance
enjoyed the sumptuous feast.
December 3, 1887. — The new string band recently organized in
Martinez has begun practicing and soon will be able to furnish excellent
music for dances. Max Blum, first violin; A. E. Blum, second violin;
Professor Leroy, cornet; C. H. Wright, double bass. Two more pieces
are soon to be added.
280 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
December 17, 1887. — The Native Daughters of the Golden West,
Ramona Parlor No. 21, was duly initiated at the Knights of Pythias
Hall last Saturday evening. List of officers: Mrs. Lizzie Russell, Presi-
dent; Mrs. C. K. Wittenmyer, Past President; Mrs. Emma Case, First
Vice-President; Babe Jones, Second Vice-President; Jennie Fraser, Third
Vice-President; Kate Potwin, Recording Secretary; Cora Hough, Financial
Secretary; Mame Jones, Treasurer; Maggie Carrigan, Inside Sentinel;
Ella Swain, Outside Sentinel.
The California Steamship Navigation Company has bought the
Walker, and now the fare, by river, from San Francisco to Stockton is
seventy-five cents.
December 24, 1887. — The twenty-fifth anniversary of the marriage
of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Raap was remembered by their numerous friends
at their home on the outskirts of Martinez.
January 4, 1888. — The Gazette appears today in a new form as a
semi-weekly paper with a new dress.
January 7, 1888. — -M. Cohen, formerly of Danville, has opened a
store in the Martinez Hotel building.
January 11, 1888. — During the past three or four days the weather
has been cold about Martinez; in fact, the coldest since 1854. The ther-
mometer has been down as low as 26 degrees. Ice over an inch thick has
been taken out of troughs, and every puddle is frozen over.
January 14, 1888. — Twenty-two degrees was reported at the depot
at 6 :30 a. m. ; 18 degrees at Pacheco ; 14 degrees at Walnut Creek. Water
pipes burst in a most extravagant manner and plumbers were in great
demand.
January 18, 1888. — The new hose cart ordered for the county arrived
Sunday and is a beauty.
February 25, 1888. — The opening of coal mines at Somersville has
been the means of employing many men at that place, and it is now one of
the liveliest in the county.
February 29, 1888. — The Steamer Julia was blown up at 6:10 Mon-
day, as it was leaving the wharf at South Vallejo with seventy passengers
on board, about forty of whom were killed. The steamer was burned to
the water's edge. Fire was communicated to the petroleum tank on the
wharf, and soon the whole structure was in flames.
April 4, 1888. — The Town Improvement Commission met last Satur-
day at the courthouse and endorsed the movement for roads, bridges,
town hall and other improvements.
A Leap Year Ball was given by the Native Daughters of the Golden
West and was largely attended. Splendid music was rendered. The
grand march was led by Mrs. L. T. Russell, president, and A. T. Gartley.
April 7, 1888. — The ninth anniversary of the Concord Hook & Ladder
Company, No. 1, was celebrated Thursday, April 5. The Concord and
Martinez bands were in evidence, and the Martinez Fire Department was
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 281
out in full force. A grand ball was held, followed by a grand feed. The
celebration was a grand success.
May 26, 1888. — A fine new Cottrell cylinder press has just been in-
stalled in the Gazette office. It is a fine piece of machinery.
September 18, 1889. — The work of clearing away debris and re-
building the burned portion of Port Costa is progressing rapidly. The
new warehouse will be 1500 by 100 feet, and much more spacious than
before.
The new residence erected for C. S. Cousins, of Pinole, is now
completed.
The Twenty-ninth Annual Fair of the Contra Costa County Agri-
cultural Society, but in reality the first of Agricultural District No. 23,
will open Monday, September 23.
October 2, 1889. — John L. Heald, of Heald's Foundry at Crockett,
has finished putting in the wine-making machinery at Senator Hearst's
place in Sonoma.
October 9, 1889. — The first rainfall of the season, that of Monday,
was phenomenal; 1.50 inches fell during the day, which is remarkable
for the first rain.
October 9, 1889. — The extensive agricultural works at Crockett owned
by J. L. Heald have been incorporated. Mr. Heald started the business
originally at Vallejo. Under the new management the works will be
enlarged.
October 12, 1889. — Thursday afternoon the last blow was struck by
the contractor on the new bridge. That evening the band turned out to
celebrate the event.
The old zinc warehouse at Ferry Wharf, an old landmark built in
1850, in Martinez, is being torn down by George T. Bush. The older
residents will remember that steamers landed at this warehouse and dis-
charged their cargoes.
October 26, 1889. — The Walnut Creek Library will be opened on
Monday evening, October 28, under the name of the San Ramon Valley
Library.
November 2, 1889. — A company has been formed in St. Paul to
operate an extensive cannery at Martinez, and will occupy the old steel
plant.
A paper mill for Antioch is about to be established.
November 6, 1889, a heavy frost was felt at Danville.
December 7, 1889. — The Ramona Parlor, Native Daughters of the
Golden West, will give a fancy dress ball on their anniversary, next Tues-
day evening.
Mrs. L. M. Willis has sold the Antioch Ledger to Mr. Gill, of
Lemoore, and is going to retire.
December 18, 1889. — On Monday afternoon, about three o'clock,
the 50,000-gallon water-tank of the West Hill Water Company, which
282 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
was filled to overflowing, suddenly burst, throwing water, splinters and
iron hoops in all directions.
January 18, 1890. — Twenty-eight years ago last Saturday, January
11, 1862, occurred the great flood in California, an event which has served
as a date from which to determine the period of other occurrences. In
the season of 1861-1862 there was 10.80 inches of rain previous to Janu-
ary 1. In January, 15.36 inches of rain fell, and that heavy fall caused
the devastating flood. This season there was 20.58 inches before Janu-
ary 1.
January 22, 1890. — Eight carloads of fruit were shipped from Mar-
tinez during the season of 1889.
At a meeting of the citizens of Pacheco, January 13, a club called the
Pacheco Social Club was organized. P. G. Loucks was elected president;
George Holmes, secretary; and R. Angelo, treasurer.
The new depot at Crockett is now covered.
The great storm, general all over the State, caused damages in every
section. In Visalia boats were plying up and down Main Street Saturday
noon. Stockton was flooded and the city plunged in total darkness Satur-
day night. Heavy snow-slides were reported at Downieville and Sierra
City. Los Angeles and San Bernardino suffered severely. In Contra
Costa County, Pacheco Valley was one sheet of water, and it invaded
Concord for the first time. Stages were delayed. Telegraph and tele-
phone wires were down. There were heavy slides between Martinez and
Port Costa. The inclemency of the weather has been a detriment to busi-
ness in general.
February 1, 1890. — We now have had 29.41 inches of rain.
Danville, Brentwood and Walnut Creek all report isolation on ac-
count of bad roads and storms.
February 26, 1890. — The season's rainfall is 35.41 inches. The heav-
iest recorded was for 1852-1853, when 36.36 inches fell at Sacramento.
This season is pretty sure to pass that record.
Briones Valley takes the lead in the county in rainfall, 47.50 inches.
Snow fell to the depth of an inch Thursday.
March 8, 1890. — There is now a really fair prospect of an amicable
division of the San Pablo ranch. Nearly all of the claimants have agreed
upon the terms of the division.
May 14, 1890. — Thursday morning the rain gauge added enough to
bring the total to 40.53 inches as against 17.32 inches for 1889.
The Pinole Packing Company, after a considerable time, is at last
assured. It is a syndicate represented by Garretson and Hetches of
Sioux City, Kans. They will slaughter and pack meats and establish an
industry for working up hides, etc.
April 19, 1890. — Steam was got up in the cannery on Thursday to put
the machinery in motion and adjust the same.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 283
April 30, 1890. — The new bell, weighing 2700 pounds, for the Catho-
lic church, arrived at Martinez Saturday and was hauled to the church-
yard, blocked up and rung for the first time. It has a deep tone.
May 17, 1890. — Strawberries have made their appearance in local
markets and meet with ready sale. The first cherries of the season were
received from H. Raap in Martinez.
The Alamo bridge is completed on the Green Valley Road in the
Walnut Creek district.
July 12, 1890. — A large warehouse belonging to S. Blum & Company
goes up in smoke; loss $2500; insurance $1500.
August 13, 1890. — A handsome flag, 6 by 8 feet in size, having a
large bear painted thereon, together with a staff, was presented to Mount
Diablo Parlor No. 101, N. S. G. W., by some kind but unknown man.
September 6, 1890. — A fire at Brentwood destroyed Moody's &
Brewer's smithy, Shafer's livery, and the entire printing establishment of
Mr. Humphrey. The local paper was being issued, and only a few copies
had been run off.
The Smith Mineral Springs in Alhambra Valley have been fitted up
with bath tubs and are now open to the public.
Frank L. Glass announces himself a candidate for county clerk.
On September 22 the second fair under the new organization of Agri-
cultural District No. 23 will open at the fair grounds.
September 24, 1890. — H. H. Markham, candidate for Governor, is
announced to speak at Antioch September 26. He will be tendered a re-
ception in Martinez between 10 and 12 o'clock that morning.
October 1, 1890. — Destruction of the saloon of Nicholas King by fire,
in which King was fatally burned, and of the butcher shop of Minor
Slater and the brick building occupied by James Morrow, occurred on
Saturday. On account of no water pressure it was with difficulty that
other buildings were saved.
Contra Costa County Improvement Association organized, and drew
up by-laws for "The Contra Costa Association"; John Swett, president;
E. B. Smith, secretary; J. H. Borland, vice-president, District No. 1; W.
B. Rogers, vice-president, District No. 2; W. A. Patterson, District No.
3; M. Sickal, District No. 4; A. C. Hanley, District No. 5; Mrs. M. H.
Bailhache, treasurer.
The condition of the monster ferry boat, Solano, is worrying the
railroad authorities. She has never been out of the water since launched,
and there is no dry dock in the State large enough to receive her. She
must soon be repaired or sunk.
December 10, 1890. — Work on the San Ramon branch railway is pro-
gressing very satisfactorily. The ground is being graded for a depot.
Rails a mile from Concord.
January 14, 1891. — The county census gives the population of the
county as 13,515: whites, 12,978; Chinese', 468; Indians, 4; colored, 57;
and Japanese, 8.
284 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Fifteen new buildings have been erected in Pinole in the last year.
February 25, 1891. — Wheat is coming into Port Costa at a lively
rate. There are now 500 cars in the yards.
Owing to another heavy landslide east of Nevada Dock last Mon-
day, traffic via Martinez was shut off for several hours.
March 7, 1891. — A meeting of the Alhambra Cemetery Associa-
tion was held. M. H. Bailhache called the meeting to order and trustees
were elected to fill vacancies. The organization now stands: M. H. Bail-
hache, president; G. A. Sherman, vice-president; L. C. Wittenmyer, sec-
retary, superintendent and treasurer: trustees, M. H. Bailhache, G. A.
Sherman, L. C. Wittenmyer, L. S. Davenport and E. Morgan.
March 11, 1891. — A baseball club was organized in Martinez Sat-
urday evening, with Real Sharp, manager; George Woolbert, captain;
Albert Hickman, secretary and treasurer.
March 28, 1891. — The four-masted schooner Kitsap arrived Satur-
day with 950,000 feet of lumber and lath for Port Costa Lumber Com-
pany at Vallejo Junction. In docking her, the wharf was rammed and
damaged to the extent of several hundred dollars.
Last Sunday the first service was held in the new church at Port Costa.
According to the census returns, Mount Diablo district still furnishes
the greater portion of coal produced in California. There has been
a revival, to some extent, in mining operations.
April 15, 1891. — Dunham, Carrigan & Company have bought the
Heald Mill at Crockett and have made Mr. Heald manager.
April 25, 1891. — President Harrison's train made a short stop at
Martinez. An anvil salute was fired by A. Grimes. A delegation of
leading citizens met the train. The school children were out in full force
and presented him with a fine basket of flowers, and the Native Daughters
presented another to the President's wife; other bouquets were presented
by individuals. James McKenzie was one of the Presidential party.
April 25, 1891. — Papers of the incorporation of Contra Costa Gas
& Water Company have been completed and sent to Sacramento for filing.
Prospects for obtaining both water and gas seem to be very good.
Railroad graders have passed Danville and track-laying is under full
swing.
April 29, 1891. — Brentwood turned out in full force to greet Presi-
dent Harrison's train. After a short speech and hand-shaking, the train
departed amid cheers for the President.
On April 22, 1891, the Golden Wedding anniversary of George P.
Loucks and his wife was fittingly celebrated at their residence by their
many friends.
The construction train was run upon the Walnut Creek depot grounds
April 21; the gravel train arrived April 29. The grounds for the depot
were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Botillo. Two trains daily run from Em-
ery Station to Orinda Park.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 285
At the Monday session of the board of supervisors, Charles Wood of
Danville was appointed public administrator to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Mr. Scammon.
May 27, 1891. — Articles of incorporation have been filed in the county
clerk's office by the Gas & Water Company.
A destructive fire at Crockett last Monday evening destroyed Ed.
Summerfield's drug store, Lasell & Brothers' dry goods store, Eckley &
Bartlett's butcher shop, and Cavanaugh's saloon. Total loss, $35,000,
only partly insured.
May 30, 1891. — Four locomotives at Danville at one time impart a
lively appearance to the neighborhood.
The Martinez school census showed the following results for children
between the ages of five and seventeen years: Boys, white, 151; girls,
white, 159; Negro boys, 4; Negro girls, 6 ; Indian, 1. Total, 321.
June 6, 1891. — Commencing Sunday, the 7th, the San Ramon Branch
organization will open for freight and passenger business. The opening
marks an era in the history of Contra Costa County. Trains leave San
Francisco at 7:30 a. m., arrive in Martinez at 9:29, leave Martinez at
5:10 p. m., and arrive in San Francisco at 6:45 p. m. Quite a number
of residents of Martinez availed themselves of the opportunity of in-
specting the line. There was also a delegation from San Francisco.
July 4, 1891. — The Signal Service Reports state that the temperature
for June has been the highest for many years, if not the highest ever re-
corded in California.
At the conclusion of the day's festivities there will be a grand ball at
Bennett's Hall under the auspices of Mount Diablo Parlor No. 101,
N. S. G. W.
The railroad company has had another well bored near the depot
at Concord. An artesian flow was struck at a depth of fifty-seven feet>
flowing 1000 gallons per minute, four feet over the top of pipe. A valu-
able artesian belt has been opened.
July 15, 1891. — The late fire on the east side of Mount Diablo inflicts
a heavy blow on the stockmen, the feed having been entirely destroyed
over a large area.
Deeds by the following persons to the Southern Pacific for right of
way of the San Ramon Railroad have been filed at the recorder's office:
J. D. Smith, J. A. McGovern, Mrs. A. Love, D. P. Smith, W. W. Cox,
Manuel Sherman and Maria Sherman, C. Waite, William Meese, R. O.
Baldwin, Eli R. Chase, J. B. Moraga and L. P. Moraga, John Baker,
M. D. Young, John Wilhelm, Felipa Soto de Welch.
The Nevada Docks will be quite deserted as soon as Eppinger &
Company leave. There will be only one shipper, William Dresbach. It
would not be surprising if the Nevada Bank were to ship wheat on its
own account.
July 29, 1891. — The county's wealth is estimated as follows: Real
estate, $9,226,600; improvements, $1,805,010; city and town lots, $460,-
286 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
;>57; improvements thereon, $605,000; telephone and telegraph lines,
$20,087; money, $50,428; solvent credit, $34,000; other personal prop-
erty, $3,310,569; total, $15,571,651.
The mortgages in Antioch and Martinez amount to $50,984; on farm
and other town property, $2,550,597; value of property affected by mort-
gage, $4,299,618; and assessed value of trust deeds and mortgages, $2,-
601,581.
Acres sown to crops in 1891 : Wheat, 44,500; oats, 1600; barley, 28,-
400; corn, 2200; hay, 48,400. Acres planted to grapes, 4350; to fruit
and nuts, 264,770.
August 8, 1891. — The Antioch Philharmonic Club has been organized
with a membership of thirty-five. O. E. Swain is president.
August 29, 1891. — Twenty cars of fruit passed through Martinez on
Thursday from San Ramon Valley, and large shipments are being made
every day.
The Home Orchestra was organized on Thursday evening in Mar-
tinez. Its members are: Mrs. T. A. McMahon, Max Blum, Gustave
Weiss, Miss Jennie Fraser, A. E. Blum, and Prof. W. B. Bartlett, who
acts as leader.
The school districts composing the central portion of the county
having voted for a Union High School, a meeting of the trustees of the
several districts is called to meet at Walnut Creek on September 26. It
is desired that parties having eligible sites submit their propositions
to the trustees.
October 10, 1891. — On Tuesday evening, 3200 boxes of grapes were
shipped from Martinez.
The Lumbermen's and Longshoremen's Association will give their
first ball at Crockett on October 17.
October 14, 1891. — Decidedly the most severe earthquake shock ex-
perienced in this vicinity since 1868 occurred on Sunday evening at 10:30
p. m., lasting thirteen seconds. Clocks were stopped and light articles
thrown from shelves, etc. In Napa the Masonic building was badly dam-
aged, and at the State Asylum the inmates became almost uncontrollable.
Mahoney & Ivey have been awarded the contract for carrying mail
from Martinez to Pacheco, and will run a stage twice a day.
October 28, 1891. — At the last meeting of the town trustees an order
was made contracting to take gas for five months from November 1, the
gas company furnishing burners at their own expense.
November 7, 1891. — The board of supervisors on Wednesday made
an appropriation for one-third of the actual cost of the proposed Pacheco
Canal to give relief to farmers of overflowed lands. This leaves $2000
to be contributed by those benefited.
December 26, 1891. — A disastrous fire visited the town Wednesday
morning, about three o'clock, starting in a Chinese wash-house. It spread
to the Commercial Hotel and the James Rankin building. The loss
amounted to about $12,000.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 287
January 16, 1892. — The Starr Mill began making flour last week.
January 16, 1892. — The new fire engine is expected to arrive today.
More than ten times the cost of the engine would have been saved had it
been on hand at the last fire. It is hoped it will prove satisfactory when
the time comes to use it.
January 30, 1892. — The Martinez Military Band has been reorgan-
ized. A number of new musicians have been added, and their prospects
for performance and efficiency are better than ever.
The "Boys' Brigade" being organized at Brentwood is very popular
with all the boys from twelve to seventeen years of age. They have a
regular uniform. The object is to produce habits of reverence and respect
for authority.
February 3, 1892. — At a meeting in the town hall Monday evening
the Martinez branch of the Merchants' Retail Commercial Agency was
organized, with the leading merchants as members. There are agencies
all over California, and now a branch at Antioch, Concord, Crockett, and
all towns of the county.
February 24, 1892. — The Contra Costa Herald is a new eight-page
paper at Brentwood. It is published by E. W. Netherton and is to be
independent in politics.
March 3, 1892. — Brick is being manufactured at Pacheco at Blum's
brickyard. This is the beginning of what promises to be an important
industry for Contra Costa.
The country adjacent to Brentwood, known as Eden Plain, is rapidly
being set to almonds and is destined to become a great center for that
industry. William Shafer, Thomas Murphy, P. J. Moody, and E. W.
Steading have set out twenty acres or more each.
March 16, 1892. — The foundation for the packing house is now laid
at Rodeo. The building is to be of brick, four stories high, 150 by 175
feet. Work will also commence on the canning department.
The new hotel is now opened for business and is handsomely furnished,
while the bar-room is the finest in the county.
April 13, 1892. — Over a year ago the Gazette published extracts from
more than fifty papers about the ten-block system of naming roads and
numbering county houses. Thus far no criticism has been made. Recent
dispatches from Washington say that the postmaster general has become
interested, as it remains the only obstacle to rapid and accurate service in
the country. These dispatches have been published all over the country,
and Contra Costa County has been mentioned in all of them.
David Bush and A. L. Bancroft are now at work interviewing Contra
Costa people about money with which to measure our roads and block
them off preparatory to numbering the country houses.
Hon. Joseph McKenna has presented each school in the county with
a fine large map of the United States. In retiring from public office Mr.
McKenna cherishes a feeling of kind regard for those whose confidence
he has enjoyed.
288 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
April 23, 1892. — The Martinez Free Library Association has been
compelled to vacate the place so long occupied and will be placed in the
room formerly occupied by Mrs. Hollenbeck on Ferry Street.
The violence of the quake was felt here quite enough to satisfy al-
most everybody. At Dixon the Masonic Hall was badly damaged and
will have to be taken down. The Odd Fellows' building at Vacaville is
also in ruins.
On May 7, 1892, the Contra Costa Fruit Growers' Association was
organized, with George Frazer, president; H. M. Bush, vice president;
H. Raap, secretary; G. A. Putnam, treasurer.
Married, in Martinez, May 12, 1892, by Rev. D. W. Calfee, Edward
W. Netherton of Brentwood and Miss Alice M. Carpenter of Martinez.
May 28, 1892. — A kiln of brick will soon be ready for the market
from S. Blum's yard at Pacheco.
Martinez Steel Manufacturing Company: I will pay five cents per
share for assessment-paid stock in this company. D. J. West.
July 6, 1892. — The day was made to order for the Antioch celebra-
tion of our national anniversary. The weather was ideal; a fine parade
was had, including a number of floats, the Fire Department, and the Na-
tive Sons of Antioch and Martinez. Two bands furnished the music. The
oration was delivered by Col. J. P. Irish. The day closed with a grand
ball in the evening.
July 13, 1892. — The Giant Powder Works at Fleming's. Point, West
Berkeley, met with destruction in some five or six separate explosions about
9 a. m. Saturday. The concussions caused destruction to adjacent build-
ings, and to windows in Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley. The shock
was plainly felt in Martinez.
Danville Lodge No. 378, I. O. O. F., was organized July 26, 1892,
with seven charter members; twenty-two new members were initiated.
August 13, 1892. — Last week parties leased 1000 acres in Briones
Valley and are now prospecting for oil.
Nathaniel Jones and wife celebrated their Golden Wedding anniver-
sary at Walnut Creek, Wednesday, August 10, 1892.
October 1, 1892. — The water question is getting to be a serious ques-
tion in Martinez. A number of families are entirely dependent on the
water-works for their supply and are cut off without a drop. The Water
Company is under contract to supply the railroad; and as there is not
water enough within reach of the shallow wells, the town is likely to be
shut out entirely until the winter rains set in.
October 26, 1892. — Columbus Day was celebrated at Orinda Park
by the teachers, pupils and parents of Mount Pleasant and Orinda Park
school districts. The Alhambra School also celebrated the day with
appropriate ceremonies.
Alamo and Port Costa held fitting exercises in honor of Discovery Day,
October 21, 1892. Liberty, Byron, Oak Grove, Pacheco and Green
Valley also held their celebrations in proper observance of the day.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 289
November 23, 1892. — The work of measuring and blocking off the
roads of the central part of the county, on the ten-block system, has been
under way for some time. The committee on rural affairs are L. C. Wit-
tenmyer, W. A. Kirkwood and A. L. Bancroft. H. M. Gregory has
charge of the field work. Considerable money has been subscribed by
San Francisco people.
November 30, 1892. — The Lafayette Hotel was totally destroyed by
fire Sunday evening; also the stable and entire contents.
More than 100 miles of road have been measured off thus far in the
new system of blocking.
January 14, 1893. — At a meeting of the town trustees Tuesday even-
ing, an ordinance was introduced providing for a special tax levy to pur-
chase a chemical engine for protection against fire.
January 21, 1893. — On Gwin Ranch, four miles east of Martinez,
a flowing well is reported at eighty feet, yielding an inch stream. Shallow
flowing wells are reported in Pacheco Valley; also at Concord, on the
east side of Walnut Creek, at 160 feet.
A map of Contra Costa County is on exhibit at the Mechanics' Insti-
tute in San Francisco, showing the ten-block system of numbering houses
and naming roads.
January 28, 1893. — The fine warehouse of J. A. Shuey at Danville
was totally destroyed by fire Tuesday night, together with all its contents.
There were 4000 tons of hay in storage. The contents and the building
were well insured.
The Rodeo Daily News made its expected appearance on March 1,
1893. Ernest Hymens is the publisher and editor. It is an eight-page
folio newspaper.
April 29, 1893. — The California & Nevada Railroad is completed to
within three miles of Lafayette. This branch line is a private affair of
the Grant Brothers.
Work will progress from now on upon the new ferry piers at Emery-
ville. It is proposed to construct two steel ferry boats.
May 13, 1893. — A local camp of the W. O. W. will be instituted at
Masonic Hall Saturday evening, with thirty charter members. The name
of the camp will be Laurel Camp No. 145.
The new owners of the Narrow Gauge have organized and elected
officers as follows: J. S. Emery, president; E. A. Phelps, secretary; Abner
Doble, J. J. Souvenir, George W. Schell, A. H. Clough, and William
Thomas, directors. The road will be made a broad-gauge.
May 30, 1893. — The Rodeo Daily News suspended publication.
June 17, 1893. — E. W. Netherton and family have removed to Santa
Cruz, where Mr. Netherton will be employed in the office of the Sentinel.
August 5, 1893. — The Rodeo Packing Company suspended on account
of the present financial stringency.
290 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Frank T r Swett, of Alhambra Valley, has just returned to Martinez
after an extended visit to the East. He describes the stagnation in busi-
ness and hard times among the laboring classes as deplorable. He hap-
pened to be in Manchester, N. H., when the great Amoskeag Mills closed.
They are the largest in the world and had run continuously for thirty
years. 8000 people are out of employment.
The Antioch Ledger goes from the control of C. F. Montgomery &
Son to Prof. G. F. Foster, who has given ample evidence of ability in the
editorial chair.
December 30, 1893. — Chris Evans, the train robber, who had been
sentenced to prison for life for murder, made his escape from the Fresno
County jail last Thursday evening.
March 10, 1894. — On Saturday last Judge J. C. B. Hubbard signed
the decree for the partition of the San Pablo Ranch. It is a formidable
document of 500 pages and will cost $300 to record. This ends a case that
will go down in history as one of the most noted land contests in Califor-
nia. The amount and value of the land in dispute, the ability and repute
of the counsel employed, and the length of time extended, have given it
wide notoriety. Parties secure in the possession of their premises can now
improve with security. A large increase in population can now be looked
for, and general advancement of the whole section may be realized.
March 17, 1894. — Byron has a brass band of fifteen pieces, and it is
very liberal with its services.
On Friday evening the Lafayette Improvement Club gave its initial
party at Corvillo Hall. It was organized some weeks ago, with Ed. J.
Brady, president. A sumptuous repast was served at midnight.
March, 1894. — Concord now has the fair grounds of the Agricul-
tural Society, a fine railroad station, the Klein and Mount Diablo Hotels,
the firms of Novas & Beebe, Randall Brothers, Henry Soto, Gambs
& Kaliski, general merchants; M. M. Brackenridge, hardware; Maggie
Soto, B. Neustaedter, dry goods; two harness shops; one bakery; two
blacksmiths; three grain warehouses; one livery; one meat market; one
drug store; the Weekly Sun; two doctors; the I. O. O. F. lodge; express
office and postoffice; a hook and ladder company; a free reading room; a
$15,000 school; three churches; a firemen's hall, and a hall for public
meetings.
May 5, 1894. — Work was commenced Monday on the new sewer to
run from Howard Street, near Dr. Tennent's residence, down Talbert to
Main, and thence down Main to Castro to connect with the sewer laid
last year.
The guide posts erected by the county are a great public convenience,
and if they suffer at the hands of vandals it will go hard with the offend-
ers. The Lasell Company have supplemented the useful work by placing
distance posts along the highways out of Martinez.
June 2, 1894. — The machinery for the manufacture of gas has been
placed in position and new rates will soon be announced.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 291
ince
July 14, 1894. — Ferry wharf is the most lively place in town. Si...
the tie-up of trains the mail, express, freight and passenger traffic is all
handled by the California Transit Company.
July 26, 1894. — The Black Diamond Cannery, erected seventeen
years ago, was burned to the ground. The cannery was owned by the Sac-
ramento River Packers' Association, and was one of the best and most
completely equipped on the coast.
Besides the cannery, the Southport Land and Commercial Company's
wharf works, and a sloop owned by Gus Smith, and a plunger of the Sac-
ramento River Packing Company were burned.
The board of supervisors has arranged the judicial townships and
made provision so that but one justice and one constable be allowed to
each township.
September 22, 1894. — The Lawless Block was destroyed by fire. A
crowd gathered and worked to save Miss Shuey's millinery stock and the
contents of the Free Reading Room in the Rankin Building.
The most successful fair held in many years, with an unprecedented
attendance, was held this year by the Agricultural Society.
On September 22, a Rebekah Lodge was instituted at Danville by
Grand Master J. H. Simpson, with twelve charter members. The de-
gree of Rebekah was conferred on fifty-six new members by the Livermore
Rebekah team. Mrs. Boydston was elected Noble Grand. After the
usual speech-making, about 150 gathered around the banquet table.
September 29, 1894. — The thermometer ranged from 104 degrees to
110 degrees in the shade for the closing days of the week.
The town well for sprinkling purposes has been sunk to a depth of
twenty-five feet and is eight feet square. It is quite likely to prove ade-
quate for the purpose.
November 10, 1894. — The Walnut Creek Sentinel suspended publica-
tion with last Saturday's issue. The publishers found too small a field
for their enterprise.
A ferry between Martinez and Benicia is now assured. It will make
use of the Grangers' wharf and will be a great convenience to the public.
December, 1894. — A committee has been appointed to solicit sub-
scriptions for the erection of a fireproof building for the Free Reading
Room and Library.
January 5, 1895. — A heavy rain fell, flooding the country; rivers of
water filled the city streets. The whole flat on the oustkirts of the town
was a sea of water, and water came tearing down the city streets a foot
or more deep. Smith, Castro and Las Juntas Streets carried a torrent.
It was impossible to cross Main and Castro without high gum-boots. The
storm is unprecedented since 1862.
The storm washed out several thousand feet of the Southern Pacific
tracks, east of town, and there was a bad break in the embankment be-
tween Concord and Walnut Creek.
292 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
An earthquake shock on Thursday, the 24th, which lasted ten seconds,
was the most severe experienced here for several years.
As a result of the severe rainstorm the county wagon-road to Oak-
land is blocked by a landslide of about 200,000 tons of e*arth and a detour
is necessary. The slide covers an area 100 by 150 feet and is located
about three miles from Oakland.
February 2, 1895. — A bell has been hung in the schoolhouse tower
at Byron.
February 16, 1895. — There will be a mass meeting of citizens of Mar-
tinez and vicinity in the town hall on February 20 to take steps to induce
the projectors of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad to make Martinez a
station on the new line.
March 30, 1895. — The Mountain House on Mount Diablo is closed
for lack of patronage.
April 6, 1895. — The San Pablo News made its first appearance.
April 20, 1895. — The Sunset Telephone & Telegraph Company has
introduced the new long-distance system in Martinez. New wires will be
strung through the streets, and the new phones will replace the old-style
boxes. Some forty subscriptions have been received.
May 11, 1895. — Hart A. Downer has sold the Contra Costa News
to A. Dalton, Jr., and last Wednesday's issue was circulated under the
new management.
June 15, 1895. — 180,000 tons of wheat, owned by the Fair interests,
is being loaded at Port Costa for Liverpool. Two hundred men are em-
ployed and sixty-five ships will be required.
The Union Oil Company has purchased the real estate and wharf of
the California Lumber Yard Company at Rodeo and intends to erect an
oil refinery. The investment is about $100,000.
The Antioch High School was declared lapsed, in accordance with the
law, on account of not being used for school purposes the allotted length
of time.
Martinez is to have an academy where higher branches are taught
and students prepared for the university. Revs. E. W. Stoddard and
Hamilton Lee will have charge. It will open Monday, August 5, in
Guild Hall of the Episcopal Church.
The roads of Contra Costa County are all named, and the ten-block
system of numbering the country houses was adopted by ordinance No. 56
of the board of supervisors; and it now becomes the duty of the board to
erect sign-posts and guide-boards. The roads are: No. 2, Contra Costa
Highway; No. 3, Alhambra Way; No. 4, Franklin Road; No. 6, Hillsdale
Local; No. 13, Camino Diablo; No. 16, Willow Pass; No. 62, Vista
Ygnacio; No. 63, Valley Center Local; No. 63a, Ogontz Road; No. 64,
Concord Lateral; No. 65, Via Concordia; No. 66, Linne Ridge Crossing;
No. 78, Paso Nogal; No. 81, Granville Way; No. 85, Kent Road; No.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 293
103, Golden Gate Way; No. 104, Walnut Way; No. 105, LaGrange
Road; No. 106, Garden Annex; No. 110, Locust Way; No. 112, Sara
Connex.
August 24, 1895. — C. H. Ludden was awarded the contract for the
new library building, at $6371.
At their session Tuesday evening the town trustees passed resolutions
to contruct cement sidewalks on the business sections of Main and Ferry
Streets.
The town of Oleum is to be established on property owned by the Un-
ion Oil Company, and will mark the advent of a new industry in the
county.
According to County Auditor Soto, under the present system we have
paid out $1,700,000 for county roads during the past forty years.
The library, conceived in 1883, now has 1800 bound volumes and
hundreds of volumes of unbound magazines, etc., and will soon be housed
in its own building.
Establishment of a creamery at Walnut Creek opens up another in-
dustry for Contra Costa County.
The output of the coal mines of Contra Costa County during the
year 1894 was valued at $94,000.
December 7, 1895.- — R. R. Bunker, after thirty-six years as associate
proprietor and editor of the Gazette, severs his connection, and W. C.
Brown succeeds as sole editor and proprietor. He has been associated
with the paper the past two and a half years.
On Monday evening, December 24, a meeting was held at Concord
of some thirty men of Ygnacio Valley, to form an independent military
company. A committee was appointed.
Simon Blum offers one or all of three tracts for the new site of the
County Hospital.
January 4, 1896. — The Odd Fellows dedicated their hall at Concord
on New Year's Eve.
Brentwood Lodge, A. O. U. W., has consolidated with the Point of
Timber Lodge at Byron, making that the banner lodge of the county,
with more than sixty members.
The furniture of the Antioch High School was sold at auction by
Superintendent Phalin.
January 11, 1896. — Contra Costa Tent, K. O. T. M., was organized
in Martinez Tuesday evening, with twenty charter members.
On Tuesday evening, January 9, a public installation of officers of the
Court Todos Santos, A. O. F., was held in the Odd Fellows Hall.
March 14, 1896. — J. P. Briare has succeeded Mrs. E. L. Bailhache
as postmaster. Mrs. Josie McCann will be retained as assistant.
April 3, 1896. — Members of the Martinez Board of Trade and De-
velopment Association held a meeting in the town hall and elected di-
rectors for the year: James Rankin, W. K. Cole, W. S. Tinning, F. A.
294 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
McMahon and R. H. Latimer. James Rankin was elected president and
W. A. Hale, secretary.
Milk was delivered to the Walnut Creek Creamery for the first time
Monday, and their first churning was done on Wednesday.
The new officers elected at the town election Monday were: W. J.
Douglas, treasurer; M. H. Hurley, clerk; J. J. Anderson, W. A. Hale,
J. J. McNamara, W. R. Matthews, Mr. Blum.
May 26, 1896. — The campaign for woman suffrage was opened in
Contra Costa County on Tuesday in the opera house. The meeting was
called to order by Mrs. L. D. Fish, who introduced the national organ-
izer, Miss Mary G. Hay. Rev. Anna Shaw and Elizabeth Upheim Yates
also delivered addresses.
The celebration on July 4th was the best ever held in the county. The
parade, over a mile long, was a feature deserving much praise, and the
games were a pleasing feature. J. L. Geary was orator of the day. Ed.
Randall was grand marshal; aides, Reese Jones, W. A. Hale and Theo-
dore Moiles. L. C. Wittenmyer was president of the day. W. K. Coles and
the Benicia ball teams played a good game, won by Martinez, 28 to 19.
The visiting yachtsmen were tendered a barbecue and lunch. Fireworks
in the evening were much enjoyed and the Native Sons ball was largely
attended. Concord and Martinez bands furnished excellent music.
Everybody had a good time.
August 8, 1896. — Free mail delivery for Contra Costa County.
November 7, 1896. — The Salvation Army has named their new farm
for ex-convicts "Knights of Hope Farm." It consists of 300 acres near
Pacheco, forty acres in fruit trees. The use of the farm has been given
the Army by Mr. Montgomery, of San Francisco, with an option to
purchase.
November 28, 1896.— Parlor No. 92, N. D. G. W., was instituted at
Pinole with thirty-five members. First Past President, Nellie E. Barry;
First President, Marie Fernandez.
December 5, 1896. — Morello, the horse that won the futurity stakes
and Chicago Derby, died on the J. O. Rees ranch in this county Novem-
ber 29. He had been suffering from paralysis three months. He was
valued at $100,000.
December 19, 1896. — It is rumored that two strangers dug up a bag
of gold back of Rogers Hotel at Walnut Creek, last week, which had
been buried several years ago by a murderer.
January 7, 1897. — A local lodge of the Knights of the Maccabees
was organized.
January 11, 1897. — The Pinole Times and the Crockett Record were
established.
January 30, 1897. — Simon Blum has an account book that is of in-
terest, as it contains considerable information regarding the cost of lay-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 295
ing out the town of Martinez and a list of those who purchased the first
lots sold. The town was laid out and surveyed in blocks and lots in 1849.
Cost of Survey $2500 Sails and work on boat $ 300
Cost of map 100 Iron safe 50
Recording power attorney .. 6 Old power attorney 16
Stakes 150 Acknowledging deeds 187
Witnessing documents 50 Six cans paint oil 105
Lawyer's fees 12 Flat book 250
Printing deeds 240 Lawyers' fees, new deed form 400
Printing deeds 727 Acknowledging three deeds.. 6
Agent's salary 750 Anchor 14
Boat for town 250
Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, Block 2, A. Van Home Ellis $400
Lots 1, and 2, Block 3, C. H. H. Cook 200
Lots 1 and 2, Block 8, W. M. Smith 200
Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, Block 9, G. C. Wood 400
Lots 1 to 8, Block 10, T. Shilleber 800
Lot 1, Block 13, W. H. Taylor _ 100
Lots 1 and 2, Block 17, Thomas Smith 200
Then appear the names of other purchasers: Nicholas Hunsacker,
Nathaniel Jones, Moses Wells, William Hendricks, Charles Johnson, M.
D. Rickey; the latter paid $300 for Lot 8, Block 12.
Lots 3 and 4, Block 17, J. P. Stark $600
Lots 2 and 3, Block 19, O. D. Paulson 600
Lots 5 and 6, Block 20, G. W. Tucker 600
The Walnut Creek Creamery began operation March 10, 1897.
March 13, 1897. — Messrs. Stoddard and Lee have decided they can-
not continue the Martinez Academy after the close of the present term.
With the closing of the Academy, Martinez and vicinity will have no
facilities beyond the grammar grades.
March 20, 1897. — H. H. Whitman, of Ygnacio Valley, is in receipt
of his returns from New York of his pear shipment. Out of 780 boxes
of Winter Nellis but five boxes were lost, netting him clear $739.74, or
$147.95 per acre for five acres.
The Martinez Board of Trade was organized March 21, 1897.
March 27, 1897.— Married, in Antioch, March 22, 1897, by Rev. W.
J. Brier, Jr., Mr. A. B. McKenzie of Martinez and Miss Melvina I.
Durham of Concord.
April 24, 1897. — The Walnut Creek Hall Association has incorpo-
rated, and 5000 shares at par value of $20 have been subscribed. The As-
sociation will build a hall, which will be occupied by the Mount Diablo
Lodge of Workmen and Central Parlor, Native Sons. The following
leading citizens were elected to the board of directors: James M. Stow,
296 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
V. Hook, A. Legrecht, J. T. Breneman, C. Sharp, M. Kirsch and H. T.
Jones.
On May 23, a barbecue was held at the William Buckley ranch, along
which the road will wind to the mouth of the proposed tunnel that will
pierce the hills, connecting Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. An in-
spection of the tunnel, which began twenty years ago and pierced the hill
about 100 feet on the Contra Costa County side and 200 feet on the
Alameda side, revealed the fact that it was completely filled with debris.
Representative people were present from Alameda and Contra Costa
Counties. Subscriptions were taken and $1600 was subscribed by Ala-
meda citizens and $1200 by Contra Costa County — J. M. Stow, $500;
J. O. Miner, $40; E. J. Hutchinson, $100; W. B. Rogers, $100; and
A. Hemme, $100.
July 17, 1897. — The Martinez High School Association was organ-
ized with the following officers: Mrs. L. I. Fish, president; Mrs. T. A.
McMahon, secretary; Mrs. L. M. Lasell, treasurer.
July 24, 1897. — The Martinez High School will occupy rooms on the
ground floor of the Sherman homestead, the house recently vacated by
Judge and Mrs. George F. Worth.
August 7, 1897. — The Martinez High School opened with an attend-
ance of twenty-two pupils. The course is the same as at the Oakland High
School. Prof, and Mrs. R. C. Bentley, of Nebraska, have been engaged
to teach. It is to be hoped that a public high school may be established
before the beginning of another school year.
August 21, 1897. — Papinta, the vaudeville favorite, has purchased a
$15,000 ranch in Contra Costa County, 100 acres in Ygnacio Valley,
four miles from Concord. Fifteen acres are in paper-shell almonds, fif-
teen acres in French prunes, and fifteen acres in vineyard.
October 17, 1897. — A local Parlor, N. D. G. W., was organized at
Antioch.
November 20, 1897. — The Concord Courant is the new paper issued
by H. A. Downer.
November 27, 1897. — This issue of the Gazette is published under
the new ownership of G. E. Milnes, he having become editor and pro-
prietor on this date.
January 15, 1898. — The News has changed hands, and under the
new management of C. F. Montgomery will be called "The County
Paper." It is an eight-page paper.
April 2, 1898. — The worst earthquake Martinez has experienced
since 1868 occurred at 11 :42 Wednesday night. Vibrations from north-
east to southwest lasted forty seconds. There was another at 5 o'clock
Thursday morning. It damaged the court house, cracking the wall in
three places, and twisted and strained it. The library building was also
damaged. James Stewart's store had everything, jams, jellies, etc., piled
on the floor. In Alhambra Valley the shock was more severe. In Port
Costa every saloon was wrecked.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 297
The Women's Improvement Club elected permanent officers Tuesday
evening: President, Mrs. E. L. Bailhache; first vice-president, Mrs. E. M.
Taylor; second vice-president, Mrs. F. L. Glass; secretary, Mrs. M. B.
Lander; assistant secretary, Mrs. Charles Curry; treasurer, Mrs. O. L.
Marsh.
April 16, 1898. — After fourteen years of litigation in the courts of
the State, Mrs. Kelly loses her suit in connection with the purchase of
stock in the old steel works.
April 23, 1898. — Tuesday night a train bearing soldiers, horses and
artillery passed through Martinez, and Wednesday evening two more
went by, taking the soldiers to New Orleans and Key West.
May 28, 1898. — Martinez is patriotic. A company of volunteers is
being formed and already fifty names have been placed on the muster roll.
The Martinez Red Cross held an enthusiastic meeting at Bennett's
Hall on June 1.
June 4, 1898. — The Martinez High School Association has been or-
ganized for the ensuing school year: President, Mrs. James Rankin;
vice-president, G. A. Sherman; treasurer, Mrs. L. M. Lasell; secretary,
Mrs. T. A. McMahon. Mr. and Mrs. Bentley will remain as teachers.
Pupils from outside the district will be welcome at a tuition of $5 per
month. The home pupils' tuition will be $10 per month, as heretofore.
June 4, 1898. — The ladies of Walnut Creek and vicinity met at the
home of Mrs. C. R. Leech and organized a Red Cross Society: Mrs. C.
R. Leech, president; Mrs. Durham, vice-president; Mrs. E. Anderson,
recording secretary; Mrs. Esther Williams, financial secretary; Mrs.
James Hook, treasurer; Miss Zora Barry, corresponding secretary. The
society held its first regular meeting at the home of Mrs. Arthur Wil-
liams, number 64.
June 11, 1898. — The ladies of Concord and vicinity have formed a
Red Cross Society. The following officers were elected : President, Mrs.
Dr. McKenzie; recording secretary, Mrs. Dr. Neff; financial secretary,
Mrs. J. J. January; and treasurer, Mrs. James Boyd.
Joe Boyd, of Concord, proved his loyalty by paying the railway fare
from Concord to San Francisco for every Concord recruit. He is rustling
for members of the Red Cross, which now has fifty. Concord has ten
young men in the army.
July 30, 1898. — An explosion in the nitroglycerine house at the Cali-
fornia Powder Works at Pinole resulted in the death of four and the
wounding of fifteen. There were two separate explosions about three and
one-half hours apart.
September 3, 1898. — The occasion of the opening of the Town Hall
at Walnut Creek caused quite a ripple of excitement in the social life of
Walnut Creek and adjacent valleys. A splendid program was given,
which was enjoyed by all present, including people from Oakland, San
Francisco and Martinez, besides those living in and near Walnut Creek.
298 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The hall was made possible through the generosity of Mrs. F. X. Hill
and the A. O. U., and the untiring work of the women of Walnut Creek
and vicinity.
September 7, 1898.- — After an official canvass of votes of the election
held to establish a Union High School, it was found that the proposition
was defeated by fourteen votes.
September 17, 1898. — At the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. W. S. Burpee
of Walnut Creek, the Golden Wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs.
Albert Sherburne was celebrated. Two hundred invitations were issued.
December 10, 1898. — On December 5, the gelatine house of the Jud-
son Powder Works was blown to atoms. C. D. Kennedy, the superin-
tendent, and four Chinese were instantly killed.
On January 7, 1899, the Gazette was changed to a five-column eight-
page paper under the ownership of G. E. Milnes.
It was decided in 1899 that the bridging of Carquinez Straits was im-
practicable. This was a subject that had been discussed for ten or more
years by both the railroad company and various bridge companies of Cali-
fornia. When the Solano was built, the railroad company asked the Gov-
ernment for a permit to build a bridge, which was denied.
February 25, 1899. — Considerable progress is being made on the
Valley Road between Point Richmond and Stockton. The tunnel near Pin-
ole will be completed in ninety days. It will not be long before the State
will be reaping the advantages of the new railroad.
February 25, 1899. — A pressed brick and terra cotta depot is to be
erected at Pacheco Landing by the railroad.
March 14, 1899. — The California and Nevada Railroad will pass
into the hands of the Santa Fe. Capt. C. K. King is now in charge of the
California and Nevada.
April 22, 1899.— The body of Hugh P. McClellan, one of the ten
Contra Costa boys who early answered the call to arms, and who gave
his life for his country, was brought back from the Philippines on the
Ohio and laid to rest at Concord. He was born near Concord twenty-one
years ago, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles McClellan, and was a
member of Co. I, 14th U. S. Infantry. He was shot in battle on February
5 at Manila and died from wounds. A military funeral was accorded him
by the citizens of Concord, Pacheco and vicinity, and never in the history
of the county has a more fitting tribute been paid to the memory of anyone.
May 6, 1899. — Attorney Hartley was appointed justice of the peace
at Antioch.
May 13, 1899.- — Holler & Company's fruit and salmon cannery at
Black Diamond was burned to the ground last Wednesday evening.
The boring of the Pinole tunnel of the Valley Railroad, 18 feet square
and i045 feet long, is completed.
May 27, 1899. — Crack shots of the State are to assemble at Antioch
for a two days' tournament of California Inanimate Target Association.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 299
July 8, 1899. — Shortly after midnight Friday the big tunnel at Frank-
lin Canyon was pierced by crews working from opposite sides.
July 22, 1899. — The almond growers of Contra Costa County met
at Brentwood to organize a Contra Costa County Almond Growers'
Association. William Shafer, of Brentwood, was elected president; J. W.
Thomas, of Oakley, vice-president; R. J. Trembath, secretary; James
O'Hara, S. C. Scott and A. M. Graves, executive committee.
C. K. King was succeeded as receiver of the California and Nevada
Railroad by A. A. Grant.
During the recent National Educational Association convention held
in Los Angeles, the exhibit of Contra Costa County schools received
much praise. It was prepared under the supervision of Superintendent
Phalin. The Los Angeles Record Says: "The Contra Costa County dis-
play represented the daily work of the pupils collected by the superin-
tendent without the knowledge of the pupils or of the teachers. It com-
pared very favorably with work prepared especially for the exhibit."
August 5, 1899. — The last six grand juries have condemned the court
house, and there is a strong movement for a new county building. The
present building was erected in 1854 and cost $27,000.
August 12, 1899. — The board of supervisors have voted to erect a new
court house.
August 19, 1899. — Timbers are being smashed every day in the Frank-
lin Canyon tunnel by the shifting of the earth on account of its peculiar
formation.
August 26, 1899. — The welcome that is being given the California
Volunteers who returned from Manila this week is the greatest affair ever
held in the State. Over $60,000 was raised for the occasion. The Cali-
fornia boys have all seen hard service and are all worthy of the ovation
being given them.
September 23, 1899. — The annual session of the County Teachers'
Institute was held in Martinez and was a success, many teachers being
present.
October 14, 1899. — The town trustees have granted an electric light
franchise to Joseph Mayo.
December 2, 1899. — The steel viaduct across Alhambra Valley, just
back of Martinez, will be completed in a few days. It is 1680 feet long.
On Monday the first train passed over the Point Richmond section to
Cornwall, five miles from Antioch.
January 13, 1900. — W. S. Wells was appointed by Governor Gage
to serve as superior judge of Contra Costa County, to succeed Judge
Jones, deceased. He came to Contra Costa County in 1887.
February 16, 1900. — The Contra Costa Oil & Petroleum Company
organized last week. They have control of 1200 acres near Antioch
where oil was found thirty-five years ago at a depth of 122 feet in paying
quantities.
F. L. Glass has been appointed postmaster for the next four years.
300 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
April 14, 1900. — Last Thursday the doctors of the county met at
Antioch and organized the Contra Costa County Medical Society. Six
physicians were present. The officers are: President, J. S. Riley; first
vice-president, J. T. Breneman; second vice-president, Dr. F. Rattan;
secretary, George McKenzie; treasurer, W. S. George.
The residence of Supervisor Paul DeMartini was destroyed by fire at
Clayton.
Last Monday the town trustees elected were W. A. Hale, Reese Jones,
J. G. Duane; treasurer, W. J. Douglas; clerk, M. H. Hurley; marshal,
George Woolbert. Total votes cast, 223.
June 30, 1900. — There is a general enthusiasm for the monster cele-
bration to be held on July 4 at Martinez, and contributions are readily
coming in to make it a success. The ladies are to aid in securing funds
for the celebration. A monster crowd of people from all of the county
is expected. The celebration will last two days. W. H. Bowen, of Corn-
wall, has been selected grand marshal. There will be many forms of
amusement. Everything is in readiness for the two-day celebration.
July 7, 1900. — The monster celebration was termed a grand success.
Over 7000 people enjoyed the festivities. Miss Mamie Walsh of Valona
represented the Goddess of Liberty; the maids of honor were Edith
Barnard, Clara Mills, Nellie Casey and Daisy Collins. W. S. Tinning
was president of the day. H. C. Raap represented Uncle Sam; Miss
Florence Carpenter, Fire Queen; Miss Emma Bernard, Angel of Peace,
on the N. D. G. W. float. The decorations were fine; the parade, unexcelled
and there were also splendid literary exercises and races of all kinds.
July 11, 1900. — Wednesday was the sixtieth birthday and the thir-
teenth wedding anniversary of D. G. Muir, the well-known fruit-grower
of Alhambra Valley. This fact was not forgotten by his wife, and while
he was absent in town she planned a surprise. It was a five o'clock tea.
When Mr. Muir returned home in the afternoon he was met by his many
friends. All sat down to the festal board and spent pleasant hours re-
calling old scenes and incidents.
Quite a force of men are at work on the Randall tract for the Peyton
Chemical Company's plant.
July 21, 1900. — The Union Stock Yards Company property at Rodeo,
which cost $700,000, was auctioned off for $23,000 to A. Alper, represent-
ing the Great Western Smelting & Refining Company of San Francisco.
The sale was confirmed by Judge Ogden of Oakland.
August 18, 1900. — Work on the new electric line for which a fran-
chise was granted to Henshaw and McDonald last Monday by the board
of supervisors will begin at once.
August 25, 1900. — An enthusiastic meeting of the Martinez Repub-
lican Club was held last Thursday. A large crowd was in attendence.
The new ferry steamer San Pablo, owned by the Santa Fe, was launched
last Saturday afternoon at Union Iron Works and christened by Miss
Payson, daughter of the president of the road. This will be the finest
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 301
ferry boat on the bay and will run between Point Richmond and San
Francisco. The vessel has a length of 225 feet, 64 feet beam, and draws
17.6 feet of water. It has 2000 horse-power and 15-knot speed.
September 1, 1900. — The twelfth anniversary of the organization
of the Dante Society will take place this year at Concord, September 15
and 16.
The ticket nominated by the Republican Convention at Martinez last
Saturday was: Superior judge, W. S. Wells; senator, C. M. Belshaw;
assemblyman, B. M. Ivory; supervisors: District No. 2, J. M. Stow; No.
4, W. J. Buchanan; No. 5, E. D. Grigsby.
The Democrats in convention at Concord nominated Arthur Williams
of Walnut Creek for assemblyman; supervisors: District No. 2, James
Daley; No. 4, Paul DeMartini; No. 5, J. D. Wightman.
October 13, 1900. — The result of the vote for the removal of the
county seat from Martinez to Concord stood 2112 for Martinez and
1228 for Concord.
November 17, 1900. — The board of supervisors decided to accept
plans and specifications for the new courthouse, to cost $100,000.
The officers of the Martinez Library Association to serve the follow-
ing year are: G. A. Brick, president; A. A. Lobree, vice-president; Mrs.
Tinning, secretary; and Jessie L. Hale, librarian.
December 1, 1900. — The "Owl" train from Los Angeles to San Fran-
cisco was ditched between Cornwall and Antioch last Sunday. The car
was derailed and thrown on its side, but all passengers escaped uninjured.
The track was badly torn up.
January 5, 1901. — The bids for the construction of the new court
house were opened by the board of supervisors, and the final result was
the rejection of all offers, as none of them came within the limit pre-
scribed by the board.
January 12, 1901. — With this issue of the Gazette, G. E. Milnes
buys the interest of J. M. Stow and James Rankin, and becomes sole
owner and proprietor. Mr. Milnes has had sole management of the
Gazette for the past three years.
January 26, 1901. — Dr. Frank Rattan purchased the drug business
of W. K. Cole and will remove to Martinez and take up the practice of
Medicine. He has been located at Antioch for the past ten years.
April 13, 1901. — Plans are selected for the new court house. Havens
& Toepke, architects of Sacramento, are the successful bidders.
April 20, 1901. — At the election held Saturday in the districts of
Concord, Pacheco, Mount Diablo, Oak Grove, Bay Point, Lime Quarry,
and Pleasant Hill, for the purpose of determining whether a Union High
School should be maintained, it was decided by a vote of 311 to 76 that
such a school should be established. It is to be located at Concord.
May 4, 1901.- — The smelter of the Copper King, Ltd., located at Seal
Bluff, is in full operation. Large quantities of ores are arriving from
Fresno County daily.
302 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Oakwood Stock Farm, owned by John F. Boyd, comprising 6000
acres near Mount Diablo, has been sold to a syndicate of Montana and
Eastern capitalists. The farm has a world-wide reputation for the breed-
ing of trotters and other stock. Some of the finest cattle in the United
States were bred on this farm.
The court house plans were finally adopted and a building authorized
not to exceed in cost $145,000.
May 25, 1901. — President McKinley's train will pass through Mar-
tinez about noon today, but will not stop.
A communication from W. H. Penniman of Walnut Creek says in
part, regarding the automobile: "In your issue of the 11th inst., I noticed
in the column devoted to the doings of the supervisors pertaining to the
running of autos on the public roads of the county that J. O. Miner and
John Devlin appeared before the board and asked for an ordinance to
prohibit the running of autos upon the public roads because they frighten
horses. ... It does not seem possible that in this progressive age any
person or people could be found so unprogressive as to wish to retard
the fulfilling of one of the greatest wishes of the past generations, to be
able to glide smoothly and more swiftly over the roads with power other
than the horse. . . I tell you that the auto has come to stay, even more
so than the bicycle. . . . What scares one horse will not scare another,
and an auto is no worse, if as bad, as many other things that could be
enumerated."
June, 1901. — Residents of the town of Richmond are to form a sani-
tary district; the object of the move is to put in a complete system of
sewers.
Alameda County is in line for the tunnel road. At a meeting of the
board of supervisors they obligated themselves to levy a tax to raise $10,-
000 to be paid as Alameda County's share of the cost of building the'
proposed tunnel.
July 6, 1901. — The bid of the Pacific Construction Company was ac-
cepted by the supervisors for the new court house building, to be con-
structed of granite at a cost of $177,383. Luke Bulger was appointed
superintendent of construction.
Fourth of July was celebrated in Concord and Crockett, both places
drawing large crowds and having fine parades, speech-making, games,
races, fireworks and dancing. At Crockett, Theodore Moiles was grand
marshal; Judge T. B. Pratt, president of the day; and J. E. Hughes,
speaker. At Concord, Arthur Williams was grand marshal; J. M. Oliver,
speaker of the day; and E. J. Randall, president of the day.
July 13, 1901. — The results of the election held last Saturday to de-
termine the question whether a high school should be maintained or not,
were: Martinez, 188 for, against; Vine Hill, 6 for, 12 against; Alham-
bra, 18 for, 2 against; Franklin, 5 for, against; Briones, no election.
The board comprised: J. E. Rodgers, Martinez; L. Brockman, Briones;
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 303
George Frazer, Franklin; Mrs. M. R. Kelly, Vine Hill; John Swett, Al-
hambra. Mrs. M. R. Kelly was elected president; J. E. Rodgers, secre-
tary. E. I. Rowell was elected as principal.
July 20, 1901. — A permanent organization of the board of trustees
of Mount Diablo Union High School was effected last Saturday. E. J.
Randall, of Concord, was elected president; M. T. Sickal, of Ygnacio,
secretary; John Sutton, of Lime Quarry, third member of the executive
committee. The full board consists of E. J. Randall, M. T. Sickal, John
Sutton, John Parkinson, W. A. Kirkwood, Miss Annie Loucks, George
Putnam. G. W. Wright was elected principal. The high school will open
on August 5 with one teacher, and so continue until its growth warrants
additions. [The school opened with thirty-two pupils, and with Miss M. L.
Grover as teacher.]
The people of Oakland went before the legislature and secured the
passage of an act that would enable the Supervisors of Alameda and
Contra Costa Counties to complete and build the tunnel road.
July 27, 1901. — About 400 men along the water-front go on strike
over wages. The men ask $3 per day for nine hours' work, and time and
a half for overtime. The employers offered 30 cents an hour straight,
with no extra pay for overtime. The men accepted the above wage and
time and a half for overtime.
July 27, 1901. — -Work on laying out the grounds for the new court
house commenced last Wednesday, and excavating will soon start.
Flames of unknown origin wiped out Byron Hot Springs Hotel with
a loss of $85,000. The buildings destroyed were the main hotel, 300 by
30 feet, with two wings 50 by 100 feet each, a cottage of twenty rooms,
the laundry, and the gas and ice plants.
August 3, 1901. — The school districts of Carquinez, Port Costa and
Selby are determined that they shall have a union high school; and peti-
tions have been circulated, the required number of names secured, and an
election called for August 10.
Gold bullion valued at $320,000 was stolen from the Selby Smelter last
Tuesday morning. John Winters, formerly an employee of the plant,
was captured as a suspect and made a confession and showed where he
had hidden the bullion. There is a squabble over the $25,000 reward.
The election on August 10 for a union high school for Carquinez,
Port Costa, and Selby was a success; ninety-one voted for the school, and
one against. The number of heads of families in the district is as fol-
lows : Carquinez, 301 ; Port Costa, 9 1 ; Selby, 40.
August 31, 1901. — A petition embracing Brentwood, Iron House,
Sand Mound, Eden Plain, Excelsior, Byron, Hot Springs, Liberty, Deer
Valley, Lone Tree and Live Oak has been presented to the county super-
intendent, who has called an election.
Carquinez District selected J. J. Davis, of Crockett; N. McNamara,
of Selby; and L. M. Buttner, of Port Costa, as trustees of the new high
school district.
304 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
On account of no final settlement of the strike along the water-front,
the warehousemen are putting in electric appliances to take the place of
stevedores.
September 7, 1901. — A dispatch from San Francisco says that Presi-
dent McKinley was shot twice at the Exposition Grounds at Buffalo, N. Y.,
by an assassin. [Upon his death, memorial services were held in Curry
& Jones Hall, which was packed to overflowing.]
President Ralston, of the Selby Company, says that those who will
share in the $25,000 reward for the capture of Winters, who got fifteen
years at San Quentin, are R. R. Veale, Pete Donaldson, Ex-Chief of Po-
lice Lees, Captain of Detectives Seymour, and Detectives Tom Gibson,
Crockett, and Silvey of Morse's agency. The Pinkerton Agency declines
to accept any reward other than pay for their services.
September 21, 1901. — The Standard Oil Company purchased 117.66
acres at Richmond and will erect immense storage tanks.
October 5, 1901. — The public schools closed as a precaution to prevent
the spread of scarlet fever, which seems to have secured a strong hold in
Martinez.
A special agent of the United States Government is here to investigate
the establishment of a rural free delivery route in Alhambra Valley,
Franklin Canyon, Vaca Creek and Vine Hill districts for mail-delivery
every day except Sunday.
November 8, 1901.— The car shops of the Santa Fe at Richmond
were destroyed by fire. The loss to the company amounted to $125,000.
December 14, 1901. — Ceremonies for the laying of the cornerstone
of the new court house take place today. The Grand Masons of the
State are to lay the stone. A procession will form at Masonic Hall and
march to the court house site. J. D. Wightman will give an address, in-
viting the Grand Master to commence ceremonies; and W. S. Wells,
Grand Master of the State of California, will respond. Napa Com-
mandery No. 34, K. T., will be in attendance.
February 8, 1902.— Twilight Lodge No. 129, I.O.O.F, was in-
stituted at Richmond last Saturday night with thirty-four members. John
Murray, Noble Grand; J. A. Whiteside, Vice-Grand; A. Bishop, Treas-
urer; T. A. Tipp, Warden; E. J. Summerfield, Conductor; John Swanson,
Inside Guard; F. Kennedy, Outside Guard.
San Pablo Water Company secured 200 acres at the mouth of Wildcat
Creek and will sink wells and pipe water to Richmond.
April 5, 1902. — The Contra Costa Chamber of Commerce was or-
ganized on Saturday, March 29. W. S. Tinning was elected temporary
chairman; G. E. Milnes, secretary; and A. Beam, treasurer.
April 10, 1902.— The McKinley Masonic Lodge No. 347, F. & A. M.,
of Richmond, was instituted by Grand Master W. S. Wells. The of-
ficers elected were: Harry Ells, W. M.; W. A. Walker, S. W. ; Dr. J.
Mel. Morrison, J. W. ; W. Stitt, Treasurer; W. O. Shaw, Secretary; W.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 305
H. Smith, Senior Deacon; John Murray, Junior Deacon; R. R. Thorn-
ton, Marshal; William Richards, Tyler. There were seventeen charter
members.
May 3, 1902. — At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, President
Tinning presided. W. A. Hale, the new secretary, was in his place. A
pamphlet descriptive of the county is to be issued as soon as all the data
are available.
May 3, 1902. — The town of Concord went out to get the site of the
Fair Grounds and raised $3000. The board of directors of the Agri-
cultural Society conceded that good work had been done and deserved
support. There will be a good race track, and the grounds will be put in
first-class shape. All buildings, etc., will be moved from Walnut Creek to
the new site of seventy acres in the Galindo tract.
May 17, 1902. — As a result of the protracted fight for the location
of the union high school building in the eastern section of the county, the
second election gave Deer Valley 121, Brentwood 122. The new district
will be known as Liberty Union High School District. The school opens
at Brentwood on August 25, with Mr. I. Wright as principal.
The Contra Costa Driving Club have filed articles' of incorporation
and have been granted a charter. The directors are : W. S. Wells, F. W.
Paskett, P. J. Horgan, W. S. Burpee and George A. Wiley. A. B. Mc-
Kenzie is secretary. Capital stock, $10,000.
June 7, 1902. — As the result of a fire in Byron today, the business
section of the town was wiped out. The town not being equipped with
fire fighting apparatus, the buildings were at the mercy of the flames.
A special election is to be held on August 11, 1902, for the purpose
of submitting the proposition to incur a bonded indebtedness of $71,000
for the completion of the court house, $20,000 for the jail, and $70,000
for the complete furnishing of the court house.
The high schools of the county are : The John Swett High School, of
Crockett; Louis P. Webb, principal; Miss A. Hutton, vice-principal; thir-
ty-two students. The Alhambra Union High School; F. A. Cooley, prin-
cipal; Miss Amanda McComb, vice-principal; forty-three students. The
Mount Diablo High School of Concord; G. W. Wright, principal; Miss
Maude Grover, vice-principal; Miss G. Crocker, assistant; fifty-one stu-
dents. The Liberty Union High School, of Brentwood; I. Wright, prin-
cipal; Miss B. Hagmayer, vice-principal; twenty-one students.
All bids for the construction of the tunnel between Alameda and Con-
tra Costa County have been rejected, and the work is to be done by day
labor. The work is to begin at once. The portion in Alameda County is 436
feet, and that in Contra Costa County, 616 feet. Superintendent Stow
now has the road finished to the face of the tunned on this side.
The bonds for finishing and furnishing the court house and jail were
carried by a large majority.
December 27, 1902. — Bay Point Smelter was closed down.
306 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
January 10, 1903. — At a meeting of the board of supervisors the
salaries of the justices of the peace were fixed as follows:
District Name Population Salary
1 D. S. Carpenter 3096 $100
2 J. P. Casey 1258 40
3 W. H. Hough 1310 40
4 S. F. Ramage 1322 40
5 J. J. Burke 2080 45
6 J. H. Fitzgerald 1301 40
7 J. L. Dickinson 466 15
8 A. C. Hartley 1515 40
9 C. M. Chapman 1416 40
10 E. B. Masterson 3000 100
11 J. V. Enloe 2285 45
12 M. W. O'Neill 3020 100
13 G. L. Goethels 531 15
14 J.F.Carey 750 15
March 21, 1903. — The first session of the board of supervisors to be
held in the new court house was held on March 14. All the various of-
ficers are now installed in their new quarters.
March 28, 1903. — What the tunnel road means to that section of the
county is shown by the following: Property held at $20 per acre now
sells easily at $100 per acre.
The torrent of oil from the wells baptized the Standard Oil Com-
pany's great new pipe line Saturday at Bakersfield, and 20,000 gallons
of that murky fluid are on the way to the water's edge at Point Richmond.
The oil is now plunging on its way towards Pond, the first pumping sta-
tion out of Bakersfield, twenty-eight miles away. It is expected to reach
there in thirty-six hours. There it will be led into a receptacle big enough
to hold the whole 20,000 gallons, whence it will be pumped to the next
station, and so on until it has been passed by ten stations, twenty-eight
miles apart on the 280-mile pipe line. It will be at least two weeks before
the oil will reach Point Richmond.
May 2, 1903. — The corner-stone for the new schoolhouse at Byron
was laid with appropriate ceremonies last Saturday.
May 30, 1903. — The supervisors of the State held their annual con-
vention at Martinez on May 26, 27 and 28, and all the visitors seemed
pleased with their visit. After the usual business sessions, trips were
made to various places of interest in the county. J. D. Wightman was
elected chairman; and County Clerk J. E. Rodgers, secretary.
The new court house was dedicated on May 29 with impressive cere-
monies. Much credit is due the volunteer firemen for the success of the
day's program. President of the day, G. E. Milnes; Ruth Dow, Fire
Queen; orator of the day, J. P. Abbott, of Antioch. Judge Wells made
the dedicatory speech. There was a parade formed on Ferry Street near
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 307
the depot, including the grand marshal and his aides; Martinez Band;
president of the day, orators of the day and chaplain in carriages; hook
and ladder truck, conveying the Fire Queen and maids; Ramona Parlor,
N. D. G. W. ; a company of sailors in uniform, from merchant ships in
the harbor; the Dante Society, in uniform; Laurel Camp No. 145, W.
O. W. ; chemical engine; citizens in carriages; and Tug-of-War float. Af-
ter the services there was a barbecue and sports, and in the evening a ban-
quet and dance.
Decoration Day was fittingly observed in Martinez on May 30. The
fire company and ships in the harbor took part in the ceremonies. Judge
W. S. Wells was chairman, and Judge E. M. Gibson was orator of the day.
June 13, 1903. — After a period of five years at Crockett, W. G.
Hawes, editor of the Crockett Signal, has decided to suspend the publi-
cation of his paper and to move his plant to East Oakland.
Eppinger & Company, of San Francisco, owners of the Pacific Coast
Works at Crockett, have been forced to the wall; their liabilities were
$1,500,000, and assets $750,000. The failure is one of the worst in the
State, but the losses fell heaviest upon banks that are able to stand them,
not on the farmers.
June 11, at 5:15 a. m., the residents of the town were awakened by a
violent earthquake shock. It made the houses rock like small pieces of
cork bobbing on a wave.
The terrible wreck on the Southern Pacific at Byron last December,
in which over thirty persons lost their lives in the wreck of the Stockton
Flyer and the Owl trains, is recalled in a suit filed in supreme court this
week for $20,000 damages. The plaintiff in the case is Ella A. Sessions,
widow of Charles Sessions, a capitalist of Oakland, who was crushed
in the wreck.
June 20, 1903. — Elections were held in the towns of Black Diamond
and Pinole last Monday to determine the question of incorporation, which
was carried by overwhelming majorities. The vote was 50 for and 1
against at Black Diamond. Clerk, T. M. Donovan; treasurer, V. G. Vis-
casco; marshal, T. M. Rogers; trustees, W. G. H. Croxon, W. J. Buchan-
an, J. A. Junta, D. Israel, and V. D. Maggio. At Pinole the vote was
106 for and 5 against. Clerk, E. M. Downer; treasurer, A. Greenfield;
marshal, H. A. Christian; trustees, J. A. Fraser, S. J. Stotts, J. P. Bar-
rett, Joseph Walton, and Thomas Shimmins.
July 4, 1903. — The Copper King, Ltd., filed a petition in involuntary
insolvency Wednesday in San Francisco; liabilities, $614,223; assets,
$306,704.
Eppinger & Company were declared insolvent. The creditors will not
realize more than ten per cent.
July 25, 1903. — The pipe line of the Standard Oil Company from
Bakersfield to Richmond, 283 miles, is a success. The first oil was pump-
ed into the tank at Richmond Saturday at nine o'clock; during the first
308 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
hour 800 barrels were pumped. The enterprise involves an investment
of $3,000,000, and together with the local plant, $6,000,000. Seven
hundred people are employed in and about Richmond.
R. N. Frick gets a franchise for an electric railroad to the peak of
Mount Diablo. The franchise calls for an electric railway from the inter-
section of the Alameda-Contra Costa County line to the top of Mount
Diablo, also branching off at Walnut Creek and running through Ygnacio
Valley to Martinez.
The supreme court ends the Sobrante Case, which has been in the
courts for more than twenty years and involves title to 19,000 acres of
land in the west end of the county, valued at $4,000,000. The land can
now be divided among the various parties interested.
October 17, 1903. — Oil that has been sought by an enterprising com-
pany for years, has at last been discovered on the Minor ranch. As the
murky fluid shot up into the air it caught fire from lanterns hanging on the
derrick, and workmen barely escaped with their lives. Much valuable
machinery was destroyed by the flames.
December 5, 1903. — The Brentwood Hotel, the leading hotel of the
town and a landmark for years, was burned to the ground Sunday night.
January 30, 1904. — Contra Costa County has had prepared, under the
supervision of H. C. Raap, a splendid exhibit of its products and resources.
At the proper time this exhibit is to be sent to the St. Louis World's Fair.
The good results that will accrue from such an exhibit will be many. Any-
one seeing it can not help being convinced that Contra Costa County is a
good place in which to cast his lot. Contra Costa County has over 500
jars containing as nice specimens of fruit as can be found, and should
maintain her individuality.
January 30, 1904. — The Vallejo Junction Hotel, located at Vallejo
Junction, was destroyed by fire at an early hour Friday morning.
February 13, 1904. — The Gazette has just installed the Simplex one-
man typesetter machinery, which is almost human in its workings.
March 12, 1904. — The flood of last Thursday was the worst the town
has experienced for the past fourteen years. The water backed up on
Main Street so that foot travel, except in a limited area, was out of the
question. North of Main Street everything clear to the water-front was
one mass of water, in places four feet deep. Portions of the railroad
track were washed out and trains were delayed several hours. At Pacheco
several buildings were washed away.
March 26, 1904. — The exhibit for the St. Louis Fair was shipped, and
H. C. Raap will leave in about a week to see that it is properly installed.
There was more than a big furniture car would hold.
May 28, 1904. — The Martinez Aerie of Eagles was instituted by
Hon. Charles Nagle, State Deputy Grand President.
June 4, 1904. — After a visit of six weeks at the St. Louis Fair, where
he superintended the placing of the Contra Costa County exhibit, H. C.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 309
Raap is home. He says that this county's exhibit is by far the best seen
at the Fair.
July 2, 1904. — The first graduating exercises of the Alhambra Union
High School were held Friday, July 1, at Curry & Jones Hall. The colors
of the school are Blue and Gold. Diplomas were given Aileen Murphy,
Laura M. Mellerup and Francis J. Kelly.
School Superintendent A. A. Bailey's report shows 6860 children in
the county between the ages of five and seventeen.
July 9, 1904. — Celebrations of the Fourth were held in various places
in the county. In Antioch R. R. Veale was grand marshal and C. M. Bel-
shaw orator of the day. At Mitchell Canyon some 1200 enjoyed the
exercises. Gus L. Goethals was president of the day and E. J. Randall
orator. At Orinda some 400 attended a barbecue held under the aus-
pices of Mr. and Mrs. J. Harris. Judge McGraw made an address, fol-
lowed by Mr. Burke of San Francisco.
August 27, 1904. — A devastating fire on August 19 consumed a large
portion of Martinez's business district. It was first seen in the Ottman
Refrigeration Plant, but by reason of delayed service in coupling hose the
fire secured such headway that it could not be checked. The Curry &
Jones livery, in fact the whole block of the Commercial Hotel, was ablaze.
Efforts were then directed to save the property on the opposite sides of
the streets.
Help came from Benicia by boat, and even from Concord. The fol-
lowing sustained losses :
Loss Insurance
McNamara & Winkleman ....$ 6,500 $1,250
A. P. Nelson _ 6,000 2,000
M. L. Biess 4,000
C. C. Gill 2,000 500
J. W. Douglass 3,000 700
Martinez Hotel 500
Bank of Martinez 1,000 1,000
J. Ipswich 2,000 1,000
M. Bergamini 3,500 1,750
McMahon Bros 7,000 2,000
C. C. Swain 200 200
E. Morgan 5,000 2,250
• Mrs. S. Rankin 10,000 3,600
W. J. Johnson 3,000 1,500
Curry & Jones 1,000. 300
Sunset Telephone Co 500
J. W. Ottman 3,000. 1,000
J. Dahlstrom 5,000
M. Lawless 3,000 1,500
G. W. Reed 500
There were many minor losses besides.
310 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
September 17, 1904.— C. E. Ertz, of the Bull's Head Oil Company,
has named his subdivision, laid out on the Frazer ranch, East Martinez.
February 11, 1905. — At a hotly contested election last Saturday Con-
cord fought out the incorporation question and elected, as trustees, H. W.
Bott, M. N. Breckenridge, H. H. Elsworthy, M. E. Lyon, and James
Boyd; clerk, G. P. Keller; treasurer, F. W. Foskett; marshal, J. W. Guy.
February 25, 1905. — The directors of the Bank of Martinez have let
the contract for a new modern building of brick and stone, and costing
$10,666, to Wilson-Lyons Company. Other buildings being constructed
aie the pressed-brick building of Mrs. Rankin, costing $1 1,000, which will
be ready for occupancy on May 1 ; the Bergamini Block, which is about
completed, a two-story brick and stone building, costing $5000; and that
of T. A. McMahon and J. J. McNamara, which will cost $10,000.
March 4, 1905. — The coal yards and grain depot of A. M. Coleman
& Company, at Point Richmond, were totally destroyed by fire, and the
coal sheds of the Richmond Supply Company were partially burned. Cole-
man's loss amounted to $3500 and Black's to $500.
June 10, 1905. — The board of supervisors granted the request that a
new township be created to include Richmond, Santa Fe, Stege, San Pablo
and Grant, and appointed Frank Hull justice of the peace.
June 17, 1905. — John Zimmerman was found guilty of the Stege rob-
bery of the Central Bank of Oakland of $10,000. The jury was out nine-
teen hours.
July 15, 1905. — Charles H. Hayden has been appointed justice of the
peace to succeed D. S. Carpenter, deceased.
July 29, 1905. — Los Cerritos Chapter, O. E. S., was instituted at Mar-
tinez Saturday night with a membership of thirty. The following officers
were appointed: Worthy Matron, Mrs. R. B. Borland; Associate Matron,
Mrs. O. E. Haywards; Patron, W. A. Hale; Secretary, Mrs. A. B. Wil-
son; treasurer, George A. Wiley; Conductress, Mrs. E. Pasch; Associate
Conductress, Mrs. W. A. Hale.
Mr. and Mrs. T. McMahon celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their
marriage on August 6, 1905.
The Alhambra Union High School opened Monday with thirty-one
students enrolled. E. W. Stoddard is the principal; Miss Ruth I. Swett,
vice-principal; and Miss Florence N. Ewing and Miss Rosalind Wulzen,
teachers.
August 19, 1905. — The trial jury sitting in circuit court before Justice
Beatty in the case of Sessions vs. the Southern Pacific Railway, in which
Mrs. Sessions sued for $20,000 because Charles A. Sessions was killed by
collision of trains on December 20, 1902, brought in a verdict in favor of
the railway company, holding that Sessions was a trespasser on the train
because he was traveling on an old pass given him by Conductor William
Doland.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 311
A Lodge of the Fraternal Brotherhood was organized in Martinez on
August 12. One hundred and twenty-four were elected to membership by
ballot.
The Alhambra Cemetery Association met and elected E. Morgan pres-
ident, to fill the vacancy made by the death of L. C. Wittenmyer, and C.
H. Hayden to fill the vacancy on the board. The board of directors are
E. Morgan, M. R. Jones, C. C. Swain, Elafn Brown, and C. H. Hayden.
August 26, 1905. — John Zimmerman was sentenced to forty-five
years for the Stege robbery. He held up and robbed John Dailey and Frank
Roche near Stege in March, relieving them of $10,000 belonging to the
Central Bank of Oakland which was being taken to Richmond to be
used in paying the help of the Standard Oil Company.
November 4, 1905. — Sterling Parlor No. 146, Native Daughters
of the Golden West, was organized at Black Diamond, with twenty-two
charter members. Mrs. Joseph McAvoy, Past President; Mrs. W. H.
DifHn, President.
December 2, 1905. — Richmond Parlor No. 147, Native Daughters
of the Golden West, was organized at Richmond with thirty-two
charter members. The officers installed were: Past President, Mrs. A. C.
Lang; President, Mrs R. H. Spiersch; first Vice-President, Mrs. Julius
Shiefwater; Second Vice-President, Mabel Roth; Secretary, Mrs. G. A.
Dimick; Treasurer, Mrs. W. S. Bennison; Marshal, Miss EfHe Rihn;
Trustees, Miss Belle Johannsen and Miss Mable Kohnhoff.
A Knights of Pythias Lodge was instituted on December 9 at Mar-
tinez; 175 visitors from various lodges were in attendance. Thirty-one
candidates received the three ranks, and nine were admitted by card. The
officers installed were: P. C. Commanders, W. M. Laidlaw, C. R. Hayes,
R. B. Borland, G. W. Sweetser; C. C, George Elder; Vice-C. C, A. E.
Goyette; Prelate, C. H. Ludden; Master of Work, L. F. Osborne; Master
at Arms, A. J. Soto; Inner Guard, L. M. Tubbs ; Outer Guard, A. W.
Large; Keeper of Records, C. H. Hayden; Master of Finance, Walter
Morgan; Master of Exchequer, R. B. Borland; Physician, Dr. G. W.
Sweetser; Trustees, Dr. G. W. Sweetser, E. Osborne, Dr. M. N. Mitchell.
March 10, 1906. — The water-front town of Stege is experiencing
a building boom. The Stauffer Chemical Works soon to be erected will
be one of its largest concerns. Another important industry is that of
the U. S. Briquette Company. The Metropolitan Match Company is im-
proving its plant.
April 7, 1906. — Papers are filled with accounts of the terrible earth-
quake and fire in San Francisco.
April 28, 1906. — The lack of glass caused by the conflagration in
San Francisco necessitates the repair of windows with boards.
The Martinez Library Association will have to incur a $1500 debt
to repair the damage to their building in the earthquake. They also lost
fifty volumes in a bindery in San Francisco.
312 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The following is the essay given by W. E. Stoddard on graduating
night, June 8, 1906:
"The first school in Martinez was taught by B. R. Holliday, in the
early part of 1850; his school consisted of five or six pupils gathered in
the Blossom, now known as the Gift house, standing at the foot of Thomas'
Hill. The school increased from six to twenty-six during the two terms.
He received $75 per month. In the fall of 1850 he was succeeded by
McLaughlin.
"In 1851 there was a school taught in an old house across from D.
Calahan's furniture store by a Mrs. Rice, who had twelve or thirteen
pupils.
"Mr. Hinckley was the next teacher, who taught a three-months term
in 1852 in a house that stood on Mills Street near Main.
"In 1853 Mr. More taught in a small brick building on the corner of
Main and Ferry.
"In the latter part of the same year Mrs. Phoebe R. Alley taught in
a house owned and now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Swain. Mrs.
Alley lived upstairs and used her kitchen for a school-room. Rough seats
were made and a curtain was drawn to hide the cook-stove and utensils.
It was during her term that the school first received aid from the State.
"Hiram Burns was the next teacher and taught six months in 1854 in
the brick building on Ferry Street already mentioned.
"In 1854 Rev. Sanbourne taught in a house, later Mrs. Henry Hale's
residence, hut afterwards in a building on Main Street.
"J. Vandermark was the first superintendent of schools of the county.
"In 1856 Dr. Holmes taught in a house which might be termed the
Public Building of Martinez, as it was used as a church, court house and
Masonic Lodge hall.
"In 1856 Miss Gregory, a graduate of Oberlin, also taught in this
building. She had twenty or thirty pupils and Miss Charlotte Worth was
an assistant.
"In 1857 Miss Jane Lyon succeeded Miss Gregory. There were
twenty pupils taking high school studies and twelve in intermediate grades.
On account of the building being too small, Miss Lyon taught primary
classes at noon while eating her lunch and at odd times when the older
ones were not reciting. Her time was fully occupied from eight in the
morning until late in the evening. She had to buy the apparatus needed,
out of her own pocket. In winter a stove was borrowed and the pupils
furnished fuel. The pipe was of three different sizes, which the teacher
and pupils put together with wire and mortar.
"In the early part of 1858 Miss Lyon accepted a call to Sacramento
and Miss Eliza May took her place. She taught two terms.
"On September 4, 1858, S. H. Bushnell was employed. One of his
pupils told the following: 'Two boys were to be whipped, and one of them
was sent to get a switch. He obeyed, went to the creek, cut a fine green
poison-oak switch, and brought it to the teacher. The boys got their
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 313
whipping, also a week's vacation, as the teacher was nursing a bad case of
poison oak.'
"There were forty-eight scholars, twenty-eight girls and twenty boys.
A new Masonic Hall had been completed in 1860, and the public school
moved into it, where Mr. Bushnell taught two years.
"The school gradually grew, and in 1873 the citizens of Martinez had
erected a two-story wooden building, which was completed May 1st.
"D. T. Fowler was the last teacher in the Masonic Hall and the first
in the new schoolhouse. Mrs. Fowler and Miss Connors were his assist-
ants. There were only eight months of school yearly, on account of
funds. The ladies of the town organized an Educational Aid Society,
with Mrs. Alley president. They gave entertainments and solicited sub-
scriptions to pay the teachers for two more months, so that a ten-months
school could be maintained. This society also bought desks and a piano,
and laid a two-plank sidewalk from Main Street to the schoolhouse."
Contra Costa County's subscription towards rebuilding the schools
in San Francisco was between $500 and $600.
The plans and specifications for the repair of earthquake damages to
the new court house were placed in charge of A. A. Cantin, architect.
August 25, 1906. — Recent reports from the Copper King Mining
Company, Ltd., of London, with mines in Fresno and a smelter here,
which was forced into bankruptcy, indicate that all creditors will be paid
in full. The trustee of the concern has been given permission to work the
mine, and says there is plenty of ore in sight to pay all liabilities.
September 15, 1906.- — The Pinole Aerie of Eagles was instituted Wed-
nesday, September 14, with fifty-six charter members. The officers are:
Sam Bermingham, Past President; J. Doughty, President; W. G. Hays,
Vice-President; J. V. Enloe, Secretary; T. J. Stats, Treasurer; F. Lock-
yer, Chaplain; George Floyd, Conductor; N. G. Scanlon, Inside Guard;
J. Clancy, Outside Guard; H. W. Baldwin, Physician; J. Silva, J. A.
Lewis and John T. Silva, Trustees.
September 15, 1906. — There was a big fire at Richmond on Tuesday
night, the 11th, which destroyed almost an entire block, including the un-
dertaking parlors and furniture store of E. B. Smallwood, the Eureka
Lodging House, Mrs. Jacka's restaurant, and the fruit stand of F. Hus-
ton. There was no fire department and the blaze was fought by bucket-
brigade. The loss was $25,000.
The estimated loss in a fire at Black Diamond was $10,000, with
$4000 insurance. The buildings burned were: C. Lepori's store, resi-
dences of J. R. Nichols and G. Crivello, and the warehouse of W. J.
Buchanan & Company. The fire started in the barn of C. Lepori. The
firemen worked well and with good results.
The Gazette has installed a Mergenthaler Linotype machine. Mr.
Milnes will welcome visitors and will see that the workings of this won-
derful machine are explained to them.
314 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
November 3, 1906. — Work on the pottery plant buildings at Rich-
mond is being pushed rapidly. The new concern will manufacture all kinds
of porcelain ware and will employ 150 men.
The California Wine Association has commenced work on its new
warehouse and winery at Point Molati on Richmond Island. When com-
pleted, the plant will cost a half million of dollars; 10,000,000 gallons
of wine will be stored in vats, and the plant will handle 25,000 tons of
grapes. The wharf is already completed and deep-water transportation
assured.
February 9. — L. N. Buttner was appointed county treasurer to fill
the vacancy caused by the death of G. A. Wiley.
February 23, 1907. — The Antioch Lumber Company incorporated
with a capital stock of $100,000; A. M. Simpson, president; J. P. Abbott,
vice-president; R. M. Beede, treasurer; H. F. Beede, secretary.
March 16, 1907. — The Richmond Chamber of Commerce was or-
ganized with H. C. Cutting, president; L. D. Dimm, vice-president; J. Q.
Black, secretary; H. L. Boswell, assistant.
On March 14 there were fifty-five fishing boats between Port Costa
and Martinez. As many as seventy were counted from a court-house
window.
March 30, 1907. — The Henley-Tyler Lumber Company of Rich-
mond has been incorporated with a capital stock of $50,000.
April 15, 1907. — The Richmond Union High School is located in
Block 99, Macdonald Avenue, on a site of twenty lots.
April 26, 1907. — Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wood of Danville celebrated
their Golden Wedding anniversary at their "Woodside Home."
The First National Bank of Contra Costa County opened its doors
June 7, 1907, with Ed. Majors, president; A. E. Blum, vice-president;
E. J. Randall and W. K. Cole, directors; M. E. Gluckman, cashier.
June 29, 1907. — The private bank conducted by J. L. Silveira at
Walnut Creek has been incorporated, and will be known as the San Ramon
Valley Bank, Inc., capital stock, $25,000. They will have a branch at
Danville. John Hackett is president; A. H. Cope, first vice-president; A.
Burton, second vice-president; J. L. Silveira, cashier and manager; C. W.
Close, manager of the Danville branch. Ralph Harrison, F. V. Wood,
A. P. Borges, and W. K. Cole make up the directorate.
July 27, 1907. — The supervisors place the increase in valuation on
property in the county at $3,275,862, which will bring the total up to
$27,122,288 as against $23,846,426 in 1906.
August 15, 1907. — Two passenger trains came through Franklin tun-
nel on Thursday morning, the first trains since January 26, when the
tunnel was blocked by slides and caving in.
December 7, 1907. — The Gazette changed hands. W. A. Rugg bought
out G. E. Milnes. From 1900 to 1904 Mr. Rugg was editor of the Daily
Press, which paper was later changed into the Daily Gazette. Mr. Rugg
has always been a fearless writer and is out for a square deal.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
315
January 18, 1908. — C. J. Preston, owner of a farm two miles out of
Byron, Contra Costa County, lays claim to the record alfalfa yield on
land that is hot irrigated. He has just cut the sixth crop on his sixty acres
of field, which has netted him a clear gain of $80 an acre. His total
profits exceed $4000.
February 20, 1908. — Twenty-four persons were killed, four white
and twenty Chinamen, at the explosion at the powder works in Pinole.
Destruction to property amounted to $100,000.
The last of the Richmond Union High School bonds have been sold.
On May 9, 1908, the Martinez Gun Club held a regular shoot, each
member having a chance at twenty blue rocks :
G. E. Searcy 16 J. Mayo 8
G. McDonald 15 M. Joost _ 4
A. E. Blum 9 C. Daley 13
F. Joost 7 W. Morgan 15
On May 20, 1908, the Oregon Express was wrecked near Pinole; five
were killed.
The total number of children of school age in the county is 9222, as
follows :
Alamo - 68
Antioch - 442
Black Diamond 911
Briones Valley 50
Carquinez 791
Concord 405
Deer Valley 30
Excelsior 47
Green Valley 25
Hot Spring 36
Jersey 34
Liberty 37
Live Oak 94
Martinez 702
Morgan Territory 33
Mt. Pleasant 32
Oakley 90
Pacheco 125
Pleasant Hill 61
Richmond 1830
San Pablo 254
Selby 160
Sobrante 25
Stege 378
Sycamore 66
Vasco 29
Alhambra 55
Bay Point 78
Brentwood Ill
Byron 80
Central 143
Danville 81
Eden Plain 53
Franklin - 45
Highland 50
Iron House 68
Lafayette 105
Lime Quarry 66
Lone Tree 40
Moraga 49
Mt. Diablo 116
Oak Grove — ... 71
Orinda Park 14
Pinole - Hercules 395
Port Costa 249
Rodeo 193
San Ramon Ill
Sand Mound 39
Somersville 21
Summit 16
Tassajara 81
Vine Hill 81
Willow Springs 56
316 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
June 6, 1908. — Martinez is to have a garage for the motoring public.
W. J. Johnson plans an up-to-date auto-repair shop, with motor cars
for sale and for rent.
Pinole was visited by a conflagration that destroyed six buildings;
loss, $40,000.
July 1 1, 1908. — The Selby Smelter has been ordered to close, by order
of Superior Court Judge Harrier of Solano County, until some device
has been installed which will consume the deadly mineral fumes.
August 29, 1908. — There are fifty-eight schools in the county, 135
teachers, and six union high schools in addition to the district schools;
that is, at Concord, Richmond, Brentwood, Crockett, Martinez and
Antioch. There are fifty-seven school buildings in the county. The
school census for the year showed 5990 pupils, with an average atten-
dance of 3358. The average cost of primary instruction was $21.97
per scholar; for high school instruction, $93.22. In 1907 the county
paid for school purposes $43,470.12.
On Tuesday, September 1, 1908, John N. Jones and his wife cele-
brated the fifty-ninth anniversary of their marriage. They came to
California in 1853.
October 30, 1908. — Fifty years ago, the school marshal of District
No. 1 (Martinez) gave the following item: Number of children between
the ages of 4 and 18 in his district, 371.
Fifty years ago, on October 10, 1858, the first overland mail from
San Francisco arrived at St. Louis, having made the trip in twenty-four
days, eighteen hours and twenty-six minutes. Mr. Butterfield was re-
ceived at St. Louis with a triumphal procession. He telegraphed the
news of his arrival to Washington from Jefferson City, and on the 9th
received the following reply :
"Washington City,
"October 9, 1858.
"John Butterfield,
"President Overland Mail Co.
Sir: Your dispatch has been received. I cordially congratulate you
on the result. It is a glorious triumph for civilization and the Union.
Settlements will follow the course of the road and the East and West will
be bound together by a chain of living Americans which can never be
broken.
(Signed) "James Buchanan."
[Note: Today (1925) the trip is made in thirty-two hours from San
Francisco to New York with fourteen stops by aeroplane.]
October 24, 1908.— $1,000,000 will be expended by the Standard Oil
Company at Point Richmond on reclamation of a large tract of marsh land
for the erection of additional refinery machinery.
October 31, 1908. — Two large warehouses at the end of Berryessa
Street, used for the storage of lumber by the Martinez Lumber Company,
were burned in a spectacular fire this morning about 1 a. m.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 317
February 10, 1909. — Richmond's new charter carried, 582 for and
269 against. The Board of Freeholders began work on a new governing
instrument last October, calling for nine elective councilmen to serve for
a term of six years.
March 13, 1909. — This morning at ten o'clock, on the front steps
of the Court House, a portion of the Bull's Head Oil Works' property
was sold under the sheriff's hammer for $7318.56.
On April 21, 1909, the Golden Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Myron
W. Hall, of Alamo, was celebrated at Danville.
The John Swett Union High School was dedicated April 30, 500
being present. It is safe to say that there is no more modern or better
equipped school building in the State.
May 15, 1909. — George Barnovich, who was convicted of dyna-
miting the home of Superintendent Hartman of the California & Hawaiian
Sugar Refining Company, February 5th, was sentenced by Judge Latimer
to serve life imprisonment in San Quentin.
June 5, 1909. — The graduating class of Alhambra Union High School:
Leila Veale, Hazel Soto, Florence Morris, Ida Hale, Nellie Glass, Villani
Hoey, Lydia Bulger, Orpha Domnaugh, Agnes Mayo and Alma
Honegger.
July 10, 1909. — The Supreme Court affirmed the decision by Judge W.
S. Wells for the partition of the Marsh ranch at Brentwood. The decision
brings to a close a legal battle that has waged for forty years. The
ranch, 13,000 acres, was originally patented to John Marsh. His heirs
sold it to J. P. Sanford in 1871, partly for cash and partly on credit.
Sanford was caught in the panic of 1873 and was unable to meet the
requirements, so the property was foreclosed in 1875. The division will
be as follows: George Davidson, 2829 acres; A. G. Moseley, 2829 acres;
T. I. Bergen, 1680 acres; C. N. Ellinwood, 1414 acres; C. E. Sanford,
J. E. M. Sanford, Mariah E. Robertson and A. M. Sanford, 707 acres
each; heirs of H. McAllister, 399 acres; Garrett W. McEnerney and
W. B. Treadwell, 333 acres each; heirs of T. P. Stoney, 222 acres; heirs
of J. A. Stanley, 222 acres.
September 4, 1909. — A fountain was unveiled in Richmond Saturday
at the intersection of Park Place and Washington Avenue by the West
Side Women's Improvement Club. One thousand were present to see
the bronze fountain unveiled. The exercises opened with music by Fisk's
band of Oakland, after which Mrs. Luther Dimm lifted the veil. Mrs. S. R.
Curry made an appropriate address.
The Martinez Grammar School was dedicated on September 25.
October 30, 1909. — The election held Monday in Martinez, for
annexation, resulted in 229 ballots for and 13 against.
January 1, 1910. — With the coming of the Pullman car works to
Richmond, it has taken another boom.
April 2, 1910. — One of the largest transactions in real estate in this
section was the sale, by the Canadian Bank of Commerce of San Fran-
318 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
cisco, of Jersey Island to D. W. Carmichael and A. L. Shinn. The island
contained 4000 acres and the purchase price was $200,000.
April 9, 1910. — H. T. Jones, county assessor, resigned and George
Meese was appointed by the supervisors to fill the vacancy.
April 21, 1910. — The immense oil reservoir of the Standard Oil Com-
pany, west of Pinole, is burning. A force of 200 men and 100 teams are
desperately at work to prevent the spread of the flames to the large tanks
a short distance south. The reservoir is 100 feet from the Santa Fe Rail-
way, and all trains are being run over the Southern Pacific between Rich-
mond and Bay Point.
April 30, 1910. — The Oakland & Antioch Railway Company, incor-
porated January 8, 1910, with a capital stock of $3,500,000, plan to begin
construction at once on a line from Oakland to Bay Point.
The Oakwood Park Stock Farm, comprising 5800 acres in San Ramon
Valley, has been sold to Col. H. D. Loveland, S. L. Bright and A. P.
Holland. A recent valuation of $450,000 was placed on the property.
The land and improvements represent an outlay originally of $800,000.
May 28, 1910. — Bull's Head Oil Company has been reorganized and
is now known as the American Oriental Company. The new company will
soon begin active operations.
An auto stage line has been established between Walnut Creek and
Oakland and will soon be extended to Danville. There will be three round
trips daily. The operating company will be known as the California
Transit Company.
Work on the Pullman shops is progressing rapidly at Richmond. The
company intend to make this plant one of the largest in the country. The
Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Railways have built spur tracks to the
shops from their main lines.
Roads recommended for improvement by the highway commission ap-
pointed by the supervisors under the act of March 9, 1907, are:
( 1 ) Byron-Knightsen Road, from the county boundary line between
Alameda and Contra Costa County through Byron and Knightsen to the
Brentwood-Oakley Road, 15.02 miles.
(2) Brentwood-Oakley Road, from the Byron-Knightsen Road to
the Southern Pacific, through Brentwood and to Oakley, 8.72 miles.
(3) Oakley-Antioch Road, from the Brentwood-Oakley Road,
through Oakley to the Santa Fe Railway and to the limits of Antioch,
6.40 miles.
(4) Antioch-Black Diamond Road, from the western limits of An-
tioch to the eastern limits of Black Diamond and Eighth Street, 3.39
miles.
(5) Black Diamond-Bay Point Road, from the western limits of
Black Diamond to Bay Point, 7.73 miles.
(6) Bay Point-Martinez Road, from Bay Point to crossing of Mount
Diablo Creek, through the Government ranch and Vine Hill to Martinez,
8.20 miles.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 319
(7) Martinez-Crockett Road, from the western limits of Martinez,
through Port Costa and Crockett, 5.16 miles.
(8) Crockett-Pinole Road, from Crockett through Valona, Tormey
and Rodeo to Hercules and Pinole, 7.65 miles.
(9) Pinole-San Pablo Road, from the western limits of Pinole
through San Pablo, 5.97 miles.
(10) San Pablo Avenue, from San Pablo to the county boundary,
4.22 miles.
(11) San Pablo Station Road, from the intersection of Alvarado
Avenue and Church Street to Market and on Market Street to the Sta-
tion, 1.16 miles.
(12) Tenth Street, from Station Road to the northern limits of
Richmond and Tenth Street, 0.59 miles.
(13) Twenty-third Street Road, from San Pablo Station Road to
Twenty-third Street and the limits of Richmond, 0.28 miles.
(14) Macdonald Avenue, from San Pablo Avenue Road on Mac-
donald Avenue to Richmond limits, 1.29 miles.
(15) Stege Road, from San Pablo Avenue and Potrero Avenue on
Potrero to Bay, and on Bay to Stege, 0.83 miles.
(16) Potrero-Pullman Avenue, from Potrero and Bay on Potrero to
Pullman and on Pullman to Cutting Boulevard, 0.80 miles.
(17) Cutting Boulevard, from Pullman Avenue across the Southern
Pacific right of way on Cutting to the limits of Richmond, 0.44 miles.
(18) San Ramon Valley Road from the county boundary through
Danville, 7.83 miles.
(19) Tassajara Road, from Danville to Tassajara, 8.06 miles.
(20) Danville-Walnut Creek Road, from Danville through Alamo
and Walnut Creek, 6.43 miles.
(21) Tunnel Road from Walnut Creek through Lafayette to the
county line, 10.78 miles.
(22) Walnut Creek-Concord Road, from Walnut Creek to Con-
cord, 6.27 miles.
(23) Clayton Road, from the limits of Concord to Clayton, 5.34
miles.
(24) Concord-Martinez Road, from the limits of Concord to Bay
Point-Martinez Road, 2.04 miles.
Estimated mileage, 124.60. Estimated cost, $1,460,000, including
grading, paving, bridges, culverts, overhead, engineering, etc. : Bridges
and culverts, $409,600; grading and paving, $1,051,000.
The bond election called for deciding upon the building of the roads
is set for August 2. The success of the movement means more for the
county than any other project. The board of supervisors adopted the
report of the highway commission, and sounded the slogan in the cause of
prosperity by calling an election for a bond issue of $1,460,000 for 124
miles of roads.
July 14, 1910. — Assessed valuation of the county, $35,231,648.
320 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Successful rallies being held throughout the county for good roads
have created great enthusiasm.
Directors elected on July 29 for a joint ferry company were: J. H.
Glendon, Benicia; Gus Gnauf, Ed Kuhland and L. A. Stevens, Martinez;
J. W. McClellan, L. M. Lasell and J. J. McNamara. President, J. J.
McNamara; vice-president, J. H. Glendon; secretary, H. K. White;
treasurer, Bank of Martinez.
The highway commission bonds were defeated by 256 votes.
September 17, 1910. — Pacheco Mills move their office and warehouse
to Concord. The big mill remains at Pacheco. Work on the storage
warehouse near the Southern Pacific depot in Concord is being pushed
rapidly.
On October 7, 1910, fire broke out in the Burlington Hotel at Port
Costa, causing a damage of $1000.
October 8, 1910. — The Pinole Hotel was totally destroyed by fire
on Friday, the 7th, together with a cottage owned by Mrs. Frater; loss
was $10,000.
The greatest real estate deal in the history of the county, from the
standpoint of acreage and money, was made on October 7, when R. N.
Burgess, of San Francisco, purchased the holding of Foskett & Elsworthy,
stock raisers and butchers of Concord, thus coming into possession of 3700
acres. The tract consists of seven ranches : Government, Murphy, part
of Galindo, Ayres, Webster, Samuels and Clier ranches.
With a charter membership of over sixty, the Concord Chamber of
Commerce was organized October 15, 1910, at a meeting held in the
I. O. O. F. Hall. A. W. Maltby was elected president; George W.
Wilson, secretary; M. E. Lyon, treasurer. Board of Directors: H. Hels-
worthy, G. W. Whitman, E. U. Leland, and M. Neustaedter.
November 5, 1910. — Three autoists were killed and two injured in
an accident on Pacheco Road, Sunday night, when a large roadster
plunged into the ditch being excavated by the Port Costa Water Company
two miles from Martinez. The dead are: Clarence E. Kline, J. P.
Mahoney, and Peter Pacheco; the injured, J. McKay and Antonio
Fortado.
November 12, 1910. — J. M. Stow has completed a fine business block
in Walnut Creek, and another is in course of construction.
On November 22, 1910, at one p.m., the first rails of the Oakland
& Antioch Electric were laid at Bay Point. One hundred men are engaged
in the work.
The Postoffice at Somersville is to be discontinued. At one time
this was the only office in the county to do an international money order
business. When the coal mines closed, the business gradually decreased.
It is also said that the Nortonville office is to be closed.
February 13, 1911. — The Oakland & Antioch Electric operated its
first car from Bay Point Monday afternoon at three o'clock, and amid the
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 321
tooting of horns and the blowing of whistles made its run from Bay Point
to Concord. A splendid banquet was held in Concord.
February 25, 1911. — Miss Emilie Haywood, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. O. E. Haywood of Alhambra Valley, is now playing the leading
part in the "Madame Sherry" Company in the East, after playing under-
study one season with the New York Company. Wherever they go, Miss
Haywood is making a hit with the critics.
March 11, 1911. — The new County Hospital building has been com-
pleted within the estimates and has been accepted by the supervisors.
The opening of the R. N. Burgess holdings, which have been sub-
divided near Concord, occurs next Sunday. Electric cars will be operated
from Bay Point to Concord, and special trains will be run over the
Southern Pacific from Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley.
The election in Black Diamond to change the name to Pittsburg was
carried 80 to 30.
The Oakland & Antioch Electric Railway Company have reincor-
porated as the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway, with a capital stock
of $10,000,000, of which $80,000 is paid up.
On May 6, 1911, a grand barbecue was held at Walnut Creek to
welcome the advent of the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway.
June 3, 1911. — Three thousand dollars were subscribed in one hour
towards the building of the highway between Bay Point and Martinez.
June 6, 1911. — Walnut Creek voted $20,000 bonds for a new gram-
mar school building, the bonds carrying 68 to 8.
The Woman's Improvement Club was formed at Walnut Creek on
July 5. Mrs. H. Spencer was elected president; Mrs Hackett, vice-presi-
dent; Mrs. George Crompton, secretary; Mrs. Joseph Silveira and Mrs.
R. L. Nougaret, trustees.
September 16, 1911. — R. N. Burgess and his associates are consid-
ering opening a National Bank at Walnut Creek. It has been rumored
for some time that a branch of the Concord Bank would be started at
Walnut Creek.
October 15, 1911. — Sixteen families were rendered homeless and the
town hall was destroyed by a fire in Rodeo, through the overturning of a
lamp in a barn while a woman was milking a cow. Lack of water hindered
the work of the fire-fighters.
November 4, 1911. — -Point of Timber Parlor, Native Daughters of
the Golden West, was instituted at Byron. Mrs. H. T. Hammond was
elected president; Mrs. A. Alexson, past president; Mrs. C. Cople, first
vice-president; Grace Blum, second vice-president; Viola Holway, third
vice-president; Mrs. L. Richardson, secretary; Mrs. A. Plumley, treasur-
er; Maud Plumley, financial secretary; Mrs. M. Gaines, marshal; Minnie
Steding, inside sentry; Lottie Hudson, outside sentry; Mrs. W. Frey,
Mrs. A. Pitou and Mrs. Stone, trustees.
322 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Town Hall site was purchased by the trustees for $5000, and
the remainder of the property was purchased for $4000, from the general
fund for park purposes.
January 6, 1912. — The Martinez-Benicia Ferry Company will he
incorporated with capital' stock of $50,000, shares $10 each.
January 20, 1912. — Contra Costa Chamber of Commerce is launched
at Concord. Over 100 boosters gathered at the banquet to work for all
Contra Costa County. The members present Friday night, January 19.
are determined that the people of the county shall learn and the world
shall know that the old saying, "Joined hands and united efforts can
win and build an empire," is applicable to this county as well as any other
part of the State. A feature of the speeches was the good-roads bond issue.
During 1911 Contra Costa County was second in the State in the
production of barley, which was over 3,000,000 bushels worth over
$1,500,000.
February 17, 1912. — The old Veale tract of 1700 acres, about five
miles northeast of Brentwood, was sold to the California Realty Com-
pany of San Jose for $140,000.
February 24, 1912. — The work on the loading station and oil refinery
at Martinez will begin at once, was the statement of J. C. Van Eck
manager of the Rothschild interests in the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Com-
pany. The initial appropriation is $500,000.
On Thursday, February 22, officials of the Associated Oil Companv
visited Martinez and Avon and inspected the site for their proposed
refinery at Avon. If building operations begin soon, 500 men will be
employed in construction work.
On March 14, Bay Point Chamber of Commerce was organized with
sixteen charter members. The following officers were elected: Presi
dent, S. W. Cunningham; vice-president, W. L. Cleveland; secretary,
S. Shideler; treasurer, A. W. Smith.
March 16. 1912. — Contra Costa Chamber of Commerce was organ-
ized and officially launched today. Following are the officers: President,
C. J. Rihn, cf Richmond; first vice-president, E. J. Randall, of Concord;
second vice-president, F. C. Macgurn; third vice-president, C. S. Dodge,
of Crockett; secretary, F. E. Brooks, of Walnut Creek; treasurer, W. A.
Hale, of Martinez. Directors: L. R. Mead, of Byron; Sumner Crosby,
of Pittsburg; W. McBryde, of Pinole; Mrs. E. H. Shibley, of Martinez,
president of the Women's Improvement Club: Mrs. C. W. Keeney, presi-
dent of the Antioch Women's Club; Mrs. G. S. Gibson, president of the
Richmond Women's Improvement Club. Charter members: W. A. Rog-
ers, Joseph McCann, Julia A. Barry, John Rosa, A. N. Paterson, G. L.
Putnam, C. L. Pingree, G. P. Upham, D. C. Ray, C. M. Bulger, R. R.
Veale, Cecil Hall, H. J. Kammerer, F. C. Gill, S. M. Dodge,
J. H. Martin, C. L. Dodge. D. J. Lucey, R. L. Clancy, J. R.
Nvstrom, L. N. Buttner, J. O'B. Wyatt, H. M. Stone, C. G. Goold.
N. S. Boone, J. Kent, E. H. Shibley, Lillian V. Shibley, Mildred
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 323
L. Crampton, Leila E. Veale, S. Y. Shideler, W. R. South, J. M.
Christen, F. P. Munson, L. H. Enloe, G. D. Young, H. Hall, I. B. Sali-
ture, W. J. Love, W. Eggleston, T. S. Newson, T. B. Duery, W. G. Shaw,
M. T. Sickal, E. J. Randall, L. Anderson Company, M. R. Jones, J. H.
Trythall, J. W. McClellan, F. H. Upham, W. H. Penniman, P. H. Cun-
ningham, C. Macgurn, H. A. West, A. C Gehringer, G. T. Crampton,
F. L. Glass, W. A. Rugg, W. A. Hale, W. R. Sharkey, J. J. McNamara,
J. P. Allen, J. F. Hoey, W. B. Williams, L. L. Levinson, G. O. Duncan,
Nellie K. Cushing, Aga D. Lander, E. B. Barber, P. Douglas, W. S. Bur
pee, M. W. Joost, J. H. Coulter, A. B. Coleman, G. E. Green, F. E.
Brooks.
March 27, 1912.— On March 23, 1912, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Thomp-
son celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding at Lafayette.
May 18, 1912. — R. N. Burgess buys Lyons' interest in Concord Bank.
This may mean that he will not open another bank as planned.
June 8, 1912. — The Pacheco Flour Mills are to suspend milling
June 11, 1912. — The Concord Warehouses were destroyed by fire.
The losses were as follows: A. E. Blum, $5000, insurance, $1500; Mt.
Diablo Commercial Co., grain, $7000, well insured; Mt. Diablo Com-
mercial Co., hay, $3000, well insured; home of Miss Barrett, $1500.
July 13, 1912. — A crew of fifty workmen with tools arrived at Dan-
ville Wednesday night to begin work on the new road to the summit of
Mt. Diablo, starting at Oakwood Park Stock Farm. The work has been
started by the R. N. Burgess Company. Over 150 cars of rock and
gravel has been ordered and will be delivered over the Southern Pacific.
On July 18 the famous Byron Hot Springs Hotel was burned to the
ground. There were 100 guests in the hotel, but all escaped. Eight
years ago the old hotel building was destroyed.
July 20, 1912. — The Dutch Shell Company have awarded the con-
tract for ten steel tanks for storage of oil and the steel gas holders for
the Asiatic Petroleum Company or Indian Oil Company, for $57,350, to
the Western Pipe & Steel Company.
C. A. Hooper, Pittsburgh millionaire, has purchased the Moraga
Grant at a cost of $1,000,000.
August 10, 1912. — The Mount Diablo Company will exploit Oak-
wood Farm. The club-house is being remodeled for occupancy.
August 10, 1912. — The town trustees awarded Murry-Elwell Com-
pany the contract to improve the water-front; their bid being $31,340, in-
cluding the architect's and engineer's fees.
The charter for the Walnut Creek National Bank has arrived, and
the R. N. Burgess Company will erect a new building for bank purposes.
October 12, 1912. — Great crowds were present at the Concord Wal-
nut Carnival.
October 21, 1912. — The branch of San Ramon Valley Bank at Con-
cord opened for business at nine o'clock a. m., this Monday. Guy E.
324 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Green is cashier; J. H. Coulter, assistant; Eli Hutchinson and M. Frank
Russi, resident directors.
The Corcoran ranch between Benicia and Selby, bordering Carquinez
Straits, directly in the so-called funnel zone of the Selby Smelter, has been
sold by the owners, Dan, John and Michael Corcoran, to the Selby Com-
pany for $100,000.
Bay View Pavilion, the only dance and entertainment hall in Mar-
tinez, was destroyed by fire on October 27. It was built in 1905 by J. J.
McNamara and Reese Jones.
The First National Bank of Walnut Creek, founded by R. N. Burgess
Company, opened for business in the Brooks real estate offices at Wal-
nut Creek on October 28. J. A. Flint is cashier, and Elmer Cameron, as-
sistant cashier.
November 2, 1912. — The John Nicholl Company sold to J. H. T.
Watkinson 112 acres in the city of Richmond for $500,000. A $400,000
mortgage was given to Nicholl by Watkinson. Nicholl purchased the
tract a few years ago for $100 per acre.
November 16, 1912. — The property of the Judson Dynamite & Pow-
der Company, near Stege, has been sold to the E. I. du Pont de Nemours'
Powder Company of Pinole.
The Antioch paper mills, one of the most extensive industrial enter-
prises in the county, and the property of the Paraffine Paint Company,
were totally destroyed by fire Tuesday afternoon. The fire started in
Mill No. 5 when an oiler threw a quantity of oil on a hot roller used in
slicking the paper. The oil blazed to the ceiling and set fire to the mill
before aid could be summoned. The costly machinery in all the mills was
entirely destroyed. The loss to the company is $500,000. About 130
men are thrown out of employment. During the last few months work
has been under way, enlarging the plant to double its former capacity,
and was about completed.
November 23, 1912. — The old Tule Ranch will be known hereafter
as the Knightsen Ranch. It was purchased by W. J. Hotchkiss, of Ber-
keley, and comprises 3000 acres, part of which was at one time under culti-
vation, only to be destroyed by the great Jersey break several years ago.
Three clamshell dredgers are working night and day on the reclamation
project. When the levees are completed, a drainage pump, which cost
§7000, will be installed.
The cottages and hotel at Byron Hot Springs are to be rebuilt at once.
December 4, 1912. — The town trustees accepted the new City Hall
built by G. W. Boxton at a contract cost of $12,990. The hall is a fine
two-story brick building, and is a credit to the town.
December 14, 1912. — The rebuilding of the tunnel road is now in
progress. About twenty men and teams are working from the Fish ranch
towards the tunnel.
December 21, 1912. — The California Delta Farms Company, capital-
ization $7,500,000, with an authorized bond issue of $3,500,000, acquired
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 325
by purchase 39,337 acres of delta lands at an estimated value of $12,000,-
000. Lee A. Phillips, of San Francisco, is president of the company.
Twenty-two thousand acres are now under cultivation and leased. The
lands involved are the Roosevelt and King Edward islands, owned by
Holland Land & Water Company, and the Palms & Orwood tracts,
owned by Orwood Land Company. On the latter's tract, 1000 acres are in
asparagus, 5600 acres in potatoes, and 1400 acres in onions.
Lee Dyer received the appointment as postmaster at Avon and will
open the office to accommodate the Association employees at work on
the Marsh lands.
A head-on collision in dense fog wrecked two locomotives and injured
several trainmen and passengers on the Santa Fe in Rodeo Valley near
Luzon, Tuesday, the 17th of December. The injured passengers and
trainmen, except those eastbound, were taken in a relief train to Richmond.
Greater disaster was averted by the action of Dave Hopkins, on the west-
bound train, who slowed down at the curve to comply with orders, saw
the smoke of the on-coming train, and had his train at almost a stand-
still when the collision occurred.
January 9, 1913. — Martinez people awakened to find a blanket of
snow over two inches deep covering the ground. Young and old promptly
took part in the greatest snow carnival ever held here. Snowballing and
tobogganing were in order. The grammar and high schools were dis-
missed for the morning, so that all could enjoy the sport.
Ground was broken for a $1,000,000 refinery at Avon by the Asso-
ciated Oil Company.
The Associated Oil Company asks for a wharf franchise; $10,000 is
the estimated cost of the wharf.
Lacking just one week of being two years after the first Oakland &
Antioch electric car was run over the line from Bay Point to Concord,
the first electric train passed through Redwood Canyon tunnel Friday,
February 21, onto the Oakland side and ran to Lake Temescal.
March 1, 1913. — The Western Pipe and Steel Company have been
awarded the contract to erect twenty-five steel oil tanks, each of 55,000-
barrel capacity, for the Associated Oil Company at Avon. The Nevada
Dock Station will be maintained as terminus for their pipe lines.
The Oakland & Antioch line is opened from Bay Point to Oakland.
The golden spike was driven Saturday, March 2, at midnight, by General
Manager H. A. Mitchell.
Balfour-Guthrie Company was awarded the contract for a modern
two-story reinforced concrete forty-room hotel building at Brentwood, to
cost $41,000.
April 5, 1913. — The Associated Oil Company awards the contract
for the erection of machine shops, boiler and pump houses, and drum
sheds at Avon, to MacDonald & Kahn, at a cost of $19,489.
Articles of incorporation for the Bank of Brentwood were filed on
April 4; capitalization, $50,000; $25,000 paid up. This is a Balfour-
326 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Guthrie concern. R. F. MacLeod, secretary of the company, holds 210
shares; R. E. Dean, 10 shares; F. H. Ludinghouse, 10 shares; Robert
Wallace, Jr., 10 shares; and Alex Burness, 10 shares.
A Farmers' Institute was held at Oakley, April 17 and 18, and
proved to be a big affair.
May 10, 1913. — With the placing in position of the forty-fifth five-
foot section of concrete, on May 5, the great concrete chimney of the
Mountain Copper Works in this city, the largest chimney of its kind in
the State, was practically completed. When the last bucket of concrete
was deposited the American flag was raised, 300 feet above sea level.
On June 3, fires were built in the first of the three furnaces at the
Mountain Copper Company's smelter, and the other two are to be con-
nected up during the week. The mammoth chimney proved a success.
May 17, 1913. — Warren McBryde was appointed supervisor in Dis-
trict No. 1 to succeed C. J. Rihn, resigned.
May 24, 1913.— The "Liberty Bell," the student body annual of the
Liberty Union High School of Brentwood, is off the press in the Gazette
office, and is one of the handsomest high-school annuals ever issued in
the county. It is a book of seventy-eight pages, with a large advertising
section and with pictures of the graduating class: Myra Pearce, Elaine
Wallace, Edith Cakebread, Richard Wallace and Judson Swift. The
cover design is a Liberty Bell; the colors, purple and gold; and it is dedi-
cated to Balfour-Guthrie Company. Myra Pearce is the editor-in-chief,
and Elaine Wallace, business manager.
The finest annual ever issued by the students of the Alhambra High
School, "The Torch," is now off the press. It is a book of 100 pages,
replete with interesting stories, bright and snappy notes, and fine cuts,
and is bound in alligator skin, embossed in gold. Credit for the book is
given J. K. Cushing, the editor, and M. B. Veale, the business manager,
and their staffs.
June 28, 1913. — The tunnel road is now open, as the road from the
Fish ranch to the tunnel is completed. While the road was closed, the
supervisors of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties lowered the floor two
feet and macadamized it.
The first electric train from Sacramento to the Bay over the O. A. & E.
was operated Wednesday, July 3, when the officials and promoters made
their first official tour. The ferry boat Brigit, which will ferry the
trains across Suisun Bay, was delivered to the company Tuesday evening
and carried its first train of cars Wednesday morning.
J. Rio Baker was appointed county treasurer to succeed L. N. Buttner,
deceased.
July 12, 1913. — The ferry boat, City of Seattle, which is to be put on
the Martinez & Benicia run, arrived at Benicia Sunday after a successful
trip from Seattle in tow of the steamer Wm. Chatham. As soon as the
boat has been inspected and a number of changes made, it will be put in
operation.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
327
July, 1913. — The property valuation of Contra Costa County is giv-
en as $48,000,000:
Alamo $300,265
Alhambra 204,865
Antioch 412,590
Antone 77,455
Ambrose 238,155
Briones 224,370
Brentwood 511,445
Byron 335,115
Concord , 842,515
Cowell _ 467,210
Cunningham 430,490
Carquinez 1,506,820
Danville 359,550
Deer Valley 207,755
Eden Plain 652,165
Excelsior 524,655
Green Valley 218,245
Franklin 74,780
Highland 121,600
Hot Springs 307,525
Iron House 293,735
Jersey 234,055
Lime Quarry 317,445
Live Oak 238,400
Lone Tree 240,545
Lafayette 418,800
Liberty 211,785
Mt. Pleasant 150,995
Moraga 206,785
Morgan Territory 87,050
Martinez 213,255
Mt. Diablo 269,855
Nichols $
Orinda
Oak Grove
Oakley
Pinole
Pacheco
Pittsburg
Pleasant Hill
Port Costa
Rodeo
Richmond 1
Sobrante
Selby
Summit
Sycamore
San Pablo 1
Somersville
San Ramon
Sand Mound
Sheldon
Tassajara
Vine Hill
Vasco
Walnut Creek
Willow Springs
Richmond 14
Pittsburg
Martinez 1
Antioch
Concord
Pinole
Hercules
610,340
119,460
797,430
167,950
176,315
403,565
840,485
359,440
462,325
446,230
,944,730
839,920
956,810
38,125
368,160
,284,510
71,270
526,455
509,730
167,305
196.475
218,590
89,065
597,765
315,380
,843,795
657,455
,151,510
547,165
298,075
158,075
652,715
July 19, 1913. — Stock subscription for the' Martinez-Benicia Ferry &
Transportation Company has been closed. About $23,000 in all has
been subscribed.
The Bank of Brentwood threw open its doors on July 15. R. G.
Dean is president and Lee Durham is cashier. The deposits the first day
amounted to $22,138.
Traffic via the Martinez-Benicia ferry is very heavy. Sunday, July 27,
the receipts amounted to $200.
August 4, 1913. — Work has started on the addition to the California-
Hawaiian Company's refinery at Crockett. About $2,000,000 will be
expended to bring the output to 40,000 tons of refined sugar annually.
328 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Byron Hot Springs Hotel is to be rebuilt, and the specifications call
for a concrete structure.
August 22, 1913. — A franchise has been sold whereby all towns in
Contra Costa County will have gas. S. Waldo Coleman, to whom the
franchise was granted, will soon be laying mains throughout the county.
The eight new wells of twelve-inch diameter and from forty to 100
feet deep, which have been sunk during the past few weeks at the Galindo
Water Station of the Port Costa Water Company, are soon to be con-
nected with the main line pipe, and water will be drawn from them to
supply Martinez, Port Costa, Crockett and Rodeo, in addition to the
manufacturing establishments which are steady patrons.
August 30, 1913. — Two aerial electrical stations of the P. G. & E. in
Concord and Walnut Creek were wrecked by dynamite and the two towns
plunged into darkness about midnight, August 23. The work was done
by experts. The dynamite was placed so that the upper portion of one of
the tall supporting poles was blown away and the cross-beam so shattered
that it dropped, throwing the heavy transformers to the ground, where
they were broken. There have been several threats over the employment
of non-union men.
The C. A. Smith Lumber Yards at Bay Point were swept by flames
on August 26, and over 40,000,000 feet of the most expensive lumber in
the yards destroyed; $1,000,000 is the estimated loss. The mill and box
factory were saved. Calls for help were sent to Concord, Richmond,
Martinez, Pittsburg and Antioch. A special train over the O. A. & E.
brought fire-fighters from Pittsburg; a special over the Santa Fe from
Richmond arrived about midnight; and about one o'clock a Southern Pa-
cific train came from Oakland. The fire tug Crolona of the California &
Hawaiian Sugar Company was brought out and did valiant service in
saving docks and wharves. Orders were sent out to do everything to stop
the fire, and a dynamiting crew blew up several large lumber piles before
the flames could be checked. While over 1000 men were fighting the
flames, the women of Bay Point prepared hot coffee for them.
On August 27 an aerial transformer of the P. G. & E. in Richmond
was blown up at the corner of Cutting Boulevard and Kearney Street,
which wrecked the lines carrying current for electric light to Pullman,
Stege and East Richmond.
On September 3, 1913, the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern began regular
train service over their line from Sacramento to Oakland. The event was
celebrated by a luncheon at Hotel Oakland at which city officials, boosters
and others from Sacramento joined with Oaklanders in lauding the possi-
bilities of the new road.
September 17, 1913. — The San Ramon warehouse burns, and 850
tons of hay are a total loss. Bishop Brothers and ranchers of the valley
were heavy losers.
The 4000-foot wharf at Avon was finished this week. It has a front-
age of 200 feet on Suisun Bay and is fifty feet wide.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 329
A gala event was the presenting of the band stand to the city by the
Women's Improvement Club Saturday night. The band concert was a
big drawing card of the evening.
At a meeting of the board of directors of the Bank of Concord, held
on October 3, the Burgess and Whitman interests in the bank were sold
to W. K. Cole and his associates of the San Ramon Valley Bank. The
Concord branch will be discontinued.
Mr. and Mrs. George W. Yoakum celebrated their fiftieth wedding
anniversary Saturday, November 1, 1913, at their home in Martinez.
On November 30 the Pacheco postoffice was discontinued. It was es-
tablished fifty years ago. All mail hereafter will designate Martinez or
Concord as postoffice.
The Brentwood Hotel formally opened its doors Monday night for a
grand ball. The hotel cost Balfour-Guthrie Company $60,000.
January 3, 1914. — Pacheco was inundated and two feet of water was
on the main highway to Concord. Considerable road-work was washed
away, caused by over-flowing of Walnut Creek. Near the slaughter-yards
eleven of the telephone poles were blown down on the Martinez-Concord
road. At Vallejo Junction the high cliff began to slide and crews were
rushed there to protect the railroad. The O. A. & E. suffered from the
storm in Moraga Valley, where tracks were undermined.
Rainfall up to January 1, 1914, 9.23 inches.
The Army Board approves the Richmond Harbor project, according
to information sent by Congressman C. F. Curry.
The Martinez-Benicia Ferry makes a splendid record. Its financial
standing is excellent, as shown by the secretary at a meeting of the stock-
holders. Total receipts from July 20 to January 1, $36,788; 24,032 pas-
sengers were carried, and 4352 autos, 566 motorcycles and 705 teams.
March 7, 1914. — The first trains over California's first community
railway were operated Monday on the new line of the San Ramon Valley
Railway, extending from Walnut Creek to Danville. The seven and a
half miles of road was built by subscription and is the property of the
farmers who own the property over which the road operates. The roll-
ing stock and equipment are furnished by the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern
Railway.
Henry J. Curry has just completed a new theater building at a cost
of over $30,000, which was formally opened on April 17. The theater
is a handsome building and fills a long-felt need in Martinez.
The Associated Oil Company is to double its capacity at Avon. They
are running full capacity now and are unable to supply the demand for
their refined products. The work of grading for the new stills and tank
bottoms is under way.
May 23, 1914. — The world's greatest ferry, Contra Costa, was
launched in the West Oakland shipyards Saturday morning. It is to be
used in ferrying the Southern Pacific trains across the Straits from Benicia
to Port Costa. The length of the ferry is 433.4 feet; over guards, 420
330 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
feet; beam, 66 l / 2 feet; depth moulded, 19.5 feet; depth amidships, 19 feet
9 inches. It will carry four train tracks with a capacity of thirty-six freight
cars and two engines. It has fourteen bulkheads; and 2,000,000 feet of
lumber, thirty tons of spikes, seventy-six tons of round iron, and 16,600
treenails entered into its construction. The Contra Costa will be put into
service on June 1 and will handle the passenger trains through the new
steps, while the Solano will handle the freight trains.
St. Mark's Catholic Church in Richmond was totally destroyed by
fire on May 22. The rescue of the Blessed Sacrament and the vestments
by Rev. O'Connor was one of the incidents which will long be remembered.
The church was built in 1911 at a cost of $8000.
June 6, 1914. — An order was placed by the Shell Oil Company for
172 miles of pipe for a line between Coalinga and Martinez. This is
pretty good proof that the Shell Company intends to establish their long-
talked-of refinery here.
Contra Costa County, not including Richmond, receives annually
hundreds of millions of feet of lumber; millions of pounds of wood pulp
for paper manufacture; thousands of cars of ores to be smelted, hundreds
of carloads of sand, scores of cars of manganese ore and silica, millions of
tons of raw sugar to be refined, thousands of cars of grain to be handled
at its ports, and thousands of carloads of other raw materials for use in its
factories. Contra Costa County produces and ships annually thousands
of cars of celery, asparagus and river fruits; and thousands of cars of
manufactured articles are produced in the factories.
July 25, 1914.— A new pipe line, to cost $4,234,685, and an oil re-
finery are assured for Martinez.
August 1, 1914. — Martinez lost the tide-lands case and thereby has
no right or title to the municipal water-front. Suit was begun in Superior
Court in 1911 against eighty or more defendants.
November 18, 1914. — Russi & Sonner Flour Mills at Pacheco were
destroyed by fire. The mills were about to be reopened after being idle
several years.
Seven hundred cars of material are to be shipped to Martinez for
building the Shell refinery.
December 24, 1914. — The giant ferry, Contra Costa, made her first
trip today.
A. B. McKenzie resigns as district attorney to accept the position of
superior judge, Department 2, that has just been authorized for Contra
Costa County. This will save holding extra sessions of court when there
is a full calendar.
The new library and reading room at Brentwood was opened to the
public on January 5. Brentwood can claim the distinction of being the
first town in the field to put up its own building. Entire credit is due the
Library Association which was formed last February, with Mrs. Andrew
Bonnickson at its head and an executive committee of earnest and pro-
gressive women.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 331
1914 was a big year for the Martinez and Benicia Ferry; it carried
13,659 autos and 62,000 passengers.
The Lacy Manufacturing Company of Los Angeles has the contract
for building forty-one steel tanks of 55,000 gallons capacity each, for the
Shell Oil Company at Martinez. The work is to be completed by April 1.
The hull of the Oakland, Antioch & Eastern ferry boat Bridgit, which
burned in the Mallard Island slip several months ago, has been lifted
from the bay, and the entrance to the slip on the Contra Costa Mainland
is now open.
On February 3, 1915, Antioch Lodge, L. O. M., was instituted with
a charter membership of seventy-two.
On February 5 the Mountain Copper Company, Ltd., resumed opera-
tions in its plant at Martinez. The plant will operate to fifty-per-cent
capacity.
April 3, 1915, was Contra Costa County Day at the P. P. I. E., and
all the county turned out, with over 400 automobiles in line and about
1000 people walking. The parade was over three miles long and went
up Market Street, San Francisco, headed by the Richmond Band. Every
town and every industry of any importance in the county were represented
in the procession, as were also the schools. It was the greatest dedication
day since the exposition opened and will be long remembered by those who
participated.
April 10, 1915.- — The city of Martinez has made an appropriation of
$50 per month to the Free Library, and it will be known as the Martinez
Municipal Library. The appropriation is for the next ten months, and
thereafter $30 per month, unless a tax levy is made to support the library.
On April 12, 1915, the Contra Costa County Bar Association was or-
ganized at a meeting of the attorneys of the county held in Department
No. 1 Courtroom. W. S. Tinning, of Martinez, was elected president;
J. E. Rodgers, of Martinez, vice-president; T. H. DeLap, of Richmond,
secretary; Leo F. Tormey, of Martinez, treasurer. Members of the
executive committee: M. R. Jones, A. S. Ormsby, of Martinez; and D. J.
Hall, of Richmond.
April 24, 1915.- — A deal aggregating over $3,000,000 was announced
today, when it became known that an Eastern syndicate had agreed to take
over 30,000 shares of outstanding capital stock of the Giant Powder Com-
pany at $110 per share.
The Richmond-Marin ferry service opened May 1 and 2 with a mon-
ster two-day celebration. The first boat to cross from the Marin County
shore to the Point Orient wharf was met by a welcoming committee. A
luncheon was given and on May 2 the Richmond people were guests of
Marin County at San Rafael, where a barbecue was held.
On May 15, the board of supervisors inspected the new addition to
the County Hospital, which was erected at a cost of $30,000. The ad-
dition gives accomodations to bring the total to 120.
332 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Union Oil Company is increasing its capacity at Oleum and
spending $25,000. They will build fifteen new storage tanks and increase
the size of their wharf.
June 5, 1915. — The Shell Company starts operating the American
Oriental plant. G. W. Geear to be superintendent at Bull's Head Point.
The Shell lease became effective Tuesday and fires were relighted, with
all the American-Oriental force at their former places.
The Valley Pipe Line Company, of Coalinga, has started oil through
the pipes to test the lines. There are eleven stations between the tank
farm and Coalinga. The capacity of the line is 30,000 barrels every
twenty-four hours.
The first auto party over the new Mount Diablo scenic boulevard,
built by the R. N. Burgess interests, has reached the 2500-foot level, to
which point the road is completed. There the Inn and toll-house are to
be built. The toll rates as fixed by the supervisors are: 2-passenger auto-
mobile, $1.00; all others, $1.50; 2-horse vehicle, $1.50; 4-horse vehicle,
$2.00; 6-horse vehicle, $2.50; individual persons, 25 cents; cow, horse,
etc., 10 cents each; sheep, 2y 2 cents.
On Wednesday, June 8, the Antioch Paper Mills suffered a $50,000
fire. The entire stock of paper-making material was lost, in the destruc-
tion of the rag pile.
The Contra Costa Free Library is the first library in the State which
is in line for aid from the Carnegie Library Fund. The appropriation
will be $2500; the city to contribute $250 each year towards its mainten-
ance, which is the only condition.
The new $10,000 hospital erected by the Standard Oil Company, ad-
joining its refinery at Richmond, will be officially opened on June 12 by
the Contra Costa County Medical Society.
July 19, 1915. — The Boulevard District election for commissioners
was held in the two polling places, Moraga and Alamo; Arthur Burton,
Ldw. R. Williams, and Josiah Boucher were elected. The next step is
to organize and lay out the course, which has practically been decided upon.
June 26, 1915. — Stills are completed, tanks filled, and actual operation
hinges on the completion of the power station, is the progress announced
by the Shell Oil Company. The plant, as laid out, will give employment
to 150 men, all skilled mechanics in their line.
The board of supervisors, on Monday, voted their intention of levy-
ing a direct tax of 25 cents on every $100 assessed valuation of property
for the next fiscal year, to start the building of public highways from the
tunnel through the county to Byron.
Increase in assessed valuation of property from 1906 to 1915:
1906 $21,590,845 1911 $39,700,914
1907 27,122,288 1912 42,631,665
1908 29,405,603 1913 47,731,341
1909 32,472,408 1914 52,204,930
1910 35,399,378 1915 54,488,451
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 333
On July 12 an entire block of business places at Rodeo was gutted by
fire; the loss was $25,000.
August 14, 1915. — The third fire which has visited the Antioch Paper
Mills has been burning two days, with a loss of over $60,000.
The most disastrous grass fire in the county was that of Tuesday after-
noon, when 3000 acres of pasture and stubble in the Rodeo Valley were
destroyed by flames. Hundreds of men were fighting the blaze. The
Santa Fe sent a special train of fire fighters.
The supervisors on Monday awarded the contract for the construc-
tion of the drawbridge over Pacheco Slough at Avon, and for pile trestling
along the Martinez-Bay Point road, and for the first link of 3.01 miles of
the permanent county highway from the tunnel to Bryant Station. The
contract price is $35,625.75.
On September 4, 1915, an explosion occurred at the Hercules Powder
Plant in Pinole, killing two men. Following is a list of previous explo-
sions at this plant: July 27, 1892, nitro-glycerine house; four killed and
nine wounded. May 21, 1894, nitro-glycerine house; five men killed.
September 1, 1897, mixing and packing house; four men killed. May 3,
1899 nitro-glycerine house; two killed. June 4, 1904, gelatine mixing
house; four men (2 Chinese) killed. Two small explosions in 1905;
two men killed. July 1907, nitro-glycerine; four Chinese killed. Feb-
ruary 1, 1908, quinine packing house and three cars of dynamite; four
white men and twenty-three Chinese killed. September 30, 1909, nitro-
glycerine explosion; four killed.
September 30, 1915. — This is the fiftieth anniversary of the founding
of the Antioch Congregational Church.
On October 5, 1915, a business block in Brentwood was burned, caus-
ing a loss of $20,000, to the following property: Tremley's Hardware
Store, Peter Olsen's building adjoining, the residences of Frank Golden,
Hercules Logan and M. Sargent, two barns, and the tank and tank-house
owned by the Balfour-Guthrie Company.
The Contra Costa Gas Company's plant at Pittsburg, which supplies
gas to Antioch, Pittsburg, Concord and Martinez, is being enlarged by
adding a 20,000-cubic-foot storage tank and machines that will double
the capacity. The plant represents a $200,000 investment. The main
office of the company is located at Martinez.
January 27, 1916. — Concord experienced a light fall of snow this
morning.
February 19, 1916. — During 1915 the Martinez-Benicia Ferry carried
78,895 passengers, 16,893 automobiles, 1183 motorcycles, 1439 teams.
The directors of this corporation are W. H. George, J. J. McNamara,
J. W. McClellan, H. Likas, P. B. Fry and L. V. Cooper. Total disburse-
ments for the year, $18,666; received from all sources, $30,045.48; sink-
ing fund, $4000.
The early settlers of Contra Costa County, those men and women
who came in the early days, held a reunion on February 23 at the home of
334 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Mrs. Mary Gilpatrick in honor of Mrs. J. H. Carothers, who celebrated
her eighty-eighth birthday. Those present were:
Year Came Year Came
Charles Lohse (age, 91 yrs.) 1849 Mrs. L. C. Wittenmyer 1865
Mrs. Jane E. Bennett 1852 Mrs. Caroline Brown 1849
Mrs. Hathaway 1853 Mrs. H. Hale 1859
Mrs. Leontine Blum 1859 Mrs. Manuel Taylor 1866
Mrs. C. Bower ...1850 Mrs. Dora Ludden ....1850
Miss G. Miranda 1851 Mrs. Margaret J. Kelly 1864
Mrs. Charles Lohse 1850
March 18, 1916. — Contracts were awarded for a clubhouse, garage
and cottages at Avon by the Associated Oil Company, at a cost of $38,000.
The Contra Costa Free Library was established on July 21, 1913.
Work began on October 1 in a small room rented from the Martinez
Free Reading Room Association. Mrs. Alice Whitbeck, librarian of the
Richmond Public Library, was appointed librarian, with Miss Weyand
as assistant. They started in a very small way a system that has been
far-reaching in influence. Through the cooperation of Mr. Hanlon, coun-
ty superintendent of schools, the majority of schools over the county are
in close touch with and receive every benefit of the librarian and library.
Miss Weyand resigned and Miss Hale was appointed assistant. Later
Miss Coulter and Miss Halliday were added to the force. There were
eighteen branches the first year and sixty-six in 1915. In addition to her
library work, the librarian has given talks at schools and clubs in the
various towns.
April 7, 1916. — Charles E. Bibber was elected a member of the board
of directors of the Bank of Concord to succeed J. D. Silveira, who re-
signed. Mr. Bibber purchased Silveira's interest in the bank.
May 24, 1916. — The Matson liner, Wilhelmina, yesterday completed
her eighty-second voyage from Honolulu, bringing 119 cabin and 87
steerage passengers, 77,000 bags of raw sugar, 12,000 bags of refined
sugar, 500 tons of molasses, 28,000 cases of canned pineapples, 3000
bunches of bananas, 650 cases of fresh pineapples, and 280 bags of cof-
fee. The liner was docked at Crockett this morning to discharge the
cargo of raw sugar.
June 24, 1916. — The Gazette, always first with the latest, has secured
the United Press News Service and is now the only paper in the county
with direct wire news service daily.
July 15, 1916. — The Tunnel Road is now open to traffic. Automobiles
are allowed to travel the highway, the first time in a year.
On July 30, 1916, the new chapel of the Martinez Christian Science
Society was formally opened and dedicated. Its seating capacity of 200
was filled. The chapel is located on Melius between Las Juntas and
Court Streets, and is of a Swiss bungalow type.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 335
The first Carnegie Library in Contra Costa County was opened and
dedicated at Walnut Creek on August 22, with appropriate ceremonies.
This is also the first library to be built, with funds obtained through the
Carnegie Foundation, after the bungalow type particularly adapted to the
needs of smaller places, where the cost of maintaining a larger building
would be burdensome.
The Antioch branch of the County Library opens on September 16.
The building was built with funds from the Carnegie Foundation.
September 17, 1916.— Mount Diablo Parlor No. 101, N. S. G. W.,
unfurled the American flag on a pole forty feet above the peak of Mount
Diablo, and 3849 feet above sea level. A staff built of cement and rock
quarried from the flank of the mountain itself was dedicated to the "Pio-
neers of Contra Costa County." Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Dean, of
Brentwood, who came here in 1850, pulled the cord which released the
flag. The flag was made by Mrs. J. H. Martin, formerly of Concord,
and Miss Loretta Collins of Vallejo, and was presented to Mount Diablo
Parlor. The staff from which it is to fly was built by W. H. George,
of the Cowell Portland Cement Company, and was presented to Mount
Diablo Parlor. The construction work was handled by H. B. Morey &
Sons, of Menlo Park.
On September 30, 1916, the new Hotel Martinez was thrown open to
the public with a grand ball. The hotel has been remodeled and rebuilt,
and also refurnished, and is steam-heated throughout. On the roof a
dancing platform has been built and provision made for afternoon and
evening parties.
January 6, 1917. — The six big realty companies with which B. Scha-
piro and his associates in land development and promotion in Contra Cos-
ta County are interested, have been consolidated into one holding com-
pany known as the Contra Costa Realty Company. Articles of incor-
poration are on file. The capitalization is $1,000,000, with the principal
place of business at Richmond. The directors are : Ben Schapiro, R. R.
Veale, J. E. Bouquet, F. A. Cascioni, H. A. Johnston, E. M. Downer
and E. D. Armstrong.
January 13, 1917. — In a lengthy opinion in the case of Henry Cowell
Cement & Lime Company vs. the various ranchers in that vicinity, Judge
R. H. Latimer holds that dust is a private nuisance and not a public evil.
Thus comes to a close a suit which has extended over many years and cost
thousands of dollars. The suit was filed in 1910 in the name of the people
of the State of California vs. Cowell Portland Cement Company to abate
a nuisance.
January 16, 1917. — Alhambra Creek was frozen over at seven o'clock
this morning for the first time in over twenty years.
March 3, 1917. — The Union Oil Company is to increase the capacity
of its asphalt and lubricating oil plants at Rodeo.
March 10, 1917. — The first shipment of material arrived for the con-
struction of Unit Three of the Trumble system at the Shell refinery.
336 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
On March 6, the new ferry, City of Martinez, was christened as she
glided down the ways at Pittsburg. As soon as she is fitted up she will
be put on the Martinez-Benicia run.
March 17, 1917. — The Associated Oil Company reclaims a sixty-acre
tract near Avon for additions to the big plant. The addition will be for
lubricants particularly.
The Standard Oil Company has purchased 100 acres of the Mizner
estate and will at once begin the work of filling, grading and preparing
for the extension of its mammoth plant at Richmond. When completed,
the plant will be the largest of its kind in the world.
The California Cap Works at Stege were destroyed by a blast on
March 12. Two Chinese were killed and three seriously injured. The
explosion was caused by a Chinaman dropping a tray of caps.
The Associated Oil Company is preparing to operate the American-
Oriental property. The lease held on the property by the Shell Oil
Company expired some time ago.
The San Ramon High School was dedicated on March 10, when a
large crowd gathered to witness the ceremonies.
March 13, 1917. — Unusual precautions are being taken by the Shell
Company in guarding its big refinery and tank farm at Martinez during
these days and weeks of strained relations with Germany. A strict guard
has been maintained ever since the plant has been in operation. Day and
night guards patrol the property. No passes are issued except to em-
ployees and persons whose business calls them to the plant.
Searchlights and machine guns will protect the Standard Oil refinery at
Richmond. Sixteen giant searchlights, formerly used at the Exposition,
have been secured; and 100 new guards have been put on.
April 7, 1917. — Two tall towers on which will be mounted two power-
ful searchlights, and which will be operated during the night and throw
their powerful beams of light to all parts of the $5,000,000 refinery, will
be in place in a few days.
Company B, 2nd Infantry, N. G. C, of Richmond, was mustered into
Federal service at the Presidio in San Francisco Tuesday afternoon.
Twenty-three special deputy sheriffs were sworn in this week to guard
the property of the Associated Oil Company at the Avon Refinery &
American-Oriental works. The men were nearly all employees of the
company.
Practically all the big plants on the bay shore are guarded. The
Standard Oil at Richmond, Giant & Hercules Powder Works, Union Oil
at Oleum, American-Oriental, Associated Oil and Great Western Electro-
chemical are guarded day and night by armed guards.
The Contra Costa County Council for Defense has been named by
Governor Stephens. It includes Judge R. H. Latimer, 'Sheriff R. R. Veale,
District Attorney T. D. Johnson, and J. H. Trythall, chairman of the
board of supervisors. These will name three private citizens.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 337
April 28, 1917. — A food-conservation mass-meeting was held in Mar-
tinez and was attended by over 300 citizens from various parts of the
county; it was held under the auspices of the County Council of Defense.
The Concord business district was swept by fire, including the Concord
Inn, Post Office, Mercantile Company, Bank of Concord, B. Neustaedter
& Son, general merchandise, and the offices of L. L. Martin, D. D. S.,
E. E. Johnson, D. D. S., A. S. Sherlock, attorney, and Mrs. S. A. Fletcher,
modiste. Nearby towns sent assistance, including Martinez, Antioch,
Avon, Cowell, Walnut Creek and Oakland.
May 5, 1917. — Judge O. Duncan, of Walnut Creek, first commis-
sioned officer from Contra Costa County, was called to the colors as first
lieutenant this week.
The Martinez Red Cross Auxiliary was organized, with 163 members,
to handle the work in Martinez; chairman, W. H. Hanlon.
The veterans of the Spanish-American War stand ready, and members
of Fitzhugh Lee Camp No. 9 pledged themselves to the Government,
giving notice that they stand ready to answer a call to arms.
On his twenty-fourth birthday, R. W. Netherton, son of E. W. Nether-
ton of Martinez, left Sunday to enlist in the aviation corps of the United
States Army.
June 2, 1917. — Following is a list of the Mount Diablo High School
graduates: W. B. Bliss, Mary W. Bott, Joseph Brazil, Minnie M. Car-
penter, Laura E. Dunn, M. L. Frandsen, F. Freitas, J. W. Graves, Mar-
jorie Holman, Charles Jennings, Dorenda Maltby, A. K. Matheson, Clara
M. Morken, Ida I. Myrick, Zelma I. Myrick, F. W. Neff, E. L. Parker,
Julie H. Prettyman, J. A. Randall, J. J. Salazar, A. Sibrian, Ethel C.
Smith, Beatrice A. de Soto, C. L. Thomson, H. H. Titcomb, Helen G.
Welch, Hazel B. Wetmore and N. F. Wilson. This is the largest class
to be graduated in the history of the school.
A fast Oakland, Antioch & Eastern train crashed into an automobile
near Moraga on May 27. Four women and one man were instantly
killed: Miss Gladys Mortimer, Mrs. A. E. Richmond, Miss Eva Walker,
Mrs. F. J. Canin, and A. J. Hawkins, all of Oakland.
A recruiting station for Company H, 2nd California Infantry, was
opened on May 30. Lieut. M. O. Ballard is in charge, with Captain Suth-
erland as assistant. They aim to bring their company up to its maximum
strength.
Mortimer Veale, Cullom Hadapp, Malcolm Borland, Earl Soto, and
Ralph West, on the eve of their departure for war service, were banqueted
by Martinez citizens.
Home Guards ready for any emergency: E. W. Jensen, Martinez;
J. N. Feeley, Hercules; E. H. Shibley, Port Costa; Otto Hasenpuch, Val-
ona; W. Matheson, Cowell; W. R. Wood, Walnut Creek; G. B. Putnam,
Pleasant Hill; Alex Burrick, Brentwood. Eighty men have signed the
Home Guard roll.
338 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
June 9, 1917. — 6298 young Contra Costa County citizens sign the roll
for the draft, the various towns being represented as follows :
Walnut Creek 68 Selby 46
Concord 109 Richmond 1907
Avon 18 Rodeo 146
Alamo 22 San Pablo 167
Martinez 393 San Pablo Creek 24
Moraga 34 Hercules 143
Clayton 39 Pinole 157
Lafayette 50 Vine Hill 35
Cowell 68 Giant 48
Danville 107 Alhambra 76
Tassajara 28 Stege 128
Port Costa 94 Nichols 102
San Ramon 23 Bay Point 105
Crockett 363 Valona 190
Pacheco 28 Pittsburg 390
Antioch 326 Lone Tree 70
Oakley 91 Jersey 110
Knightsen 89 Orwood 17
Brentwood 94 Byron 130
June 16, 1917. — Contra Costa County subscribed $856,350 to the
first Liberty Loan call.
On Saturday, June 23, the Concord Library, the third of the Carnegie
Foundation Fund buildings for this county, was opened to the public.
The entire county is now thoroughly organized in all departments for
the work of winning the war.
July 7, 1917. — As a member of Ambulance Unit No. 2 of the Uni-
versity of California, Malcolm McKenzie, son of Judge and Mrs. A. B.
McKenzie of Martinez, left with 118 other members of that unit for
Allentown, Pa., Wednesday afternoon, the first Martinez boy to start
on the journey across the seas to the battle front.
The ferry boat City of Martinez made its first regular run in the
Martinez & Benicia service on July 6.
August 11, 1917. — John Hansen, of Jersey, was the first man from
Contra Costa County who successfully passed all requirements of the draft
board and was passed into the conscription army of the United States.
By order of the board of supervisors District No. 17 was created,
which includes Knightsen and Oakley.
September 8, 1917. — Monday's fire record in Martinez: National
Hotel; S. Barlettani, blacksmith shop and residence; Mrs. M. Brosch,
residence; S. Barlettani, cottage; G. Stewart, grocery; J. W. McClellan,
residence; L. Bulger, residence. The loss was $30,000, partly covered by
insurance.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 339
October 20, 1917. — The regimental organization of the Contra Costa
Home Guards has been completed and the captains of the three most
proficient companies in the organization have been elevated to higher
rank. Captain E. W. Jensen has been made Lieutenant Colonel; Captains
Long of Richmond, Jack Kasch of Cowell, and Frank Thompson of
Lafayette have been elevated to the rank of Major.
Election of officers was held Thursday for the Martinez company.
First Lieut. B. E. Stotts was made Captain; Second Lieut. Gould was
made First Lieutenant; and First Sergeant Richmond was made Second
Lieutenant.
December 8, 1917. — A deal was closed Monday in Martinez for the
transfer of the Wallace water-front lands lying west of the Grangers'
wharf to George W. McNear, Inc.
January, 1918. — Justice of Peace C. H. Hayden resigned. Rex L.
Boyer was appointed as his successor for township No. 1.
January 19, 1918. — Raymond F. Gavin, the first Contra Costa boy
to make the supreme sacrifice, was laid to rest beside his parents in Sunset
View, Richmond.
February 2, 1918. — Three lost their lives in the fire which destroyed
Miller's Hotel at Fairview.
The Martinez sewer and water bonds were carried by a majority of
over three to one; $200,000 was the amount voted on.
The first Martinez boy to give up his life in France was Private
Henry A. NcNamara, who died accidentally. He was buried at Suresnes,
France, April 3, 1918.
A letter from a Richmond boy, J. M. Masiel, private, Company D,
6th U. S. Engineers:
"My regiment has been attached to the British for two months, and
we have been in the active service ever since, from the third line up to
the front, where we were lucky to have our first chance with the British
to prove our ability. If you have heard anything about the engineers
helping to hold back the wild bull-headed Hun, it was us (cut by censor).
Believe me, we sure knocked them over while they lasted.
"The Tommies, Australians, Canadians and all of them will never
forget us, being engineers, doing what we did. We built steel bridges
across the Somme so fast it made their heads swim. We took prisoners
and killed the enemy like a mowing machine cuts grass. I never saw such
a mess in my life. It will take him a good many nights to bury them.
"They came over ten to one. We were in the front line seven days
and nights. We gave him his! If you see my mother, ask her to let you
see the thanks we received from the Fifth Army General of the British.
"I've seen everything over here. An American aviator brought down
a Fritz two-seater yesterday, that dropped about two Richmond blocks
from us. The pilot and observer were both lucky they did not get killed.
"We wear our steel helmets all the time, day and night — so much
shrapnel about when we start shooting at his planes.
340 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
"I think I'm the first Richmond boy to be in the front line at the right
time, and also the first one to get a Fritzie. I've got a souvenir from him
for luck."
June 8, 1918. — Bert Curry of Richmond was appointed coroner by the
board of supervisors to fill the vacancy left by Dr. C. L. Abbott.
June 15, 1918. — The San Francisco Milling Company's local plant
at Pittsburg was totally destroyed by fire last night, with all the machinery,
raw and finished products, one car of wheat, and one car barley.
The first Contra Costa boy to meet death in action on the battlefields
of the Marne was Private Sidney Severns, U. S. Marine Corps, who was
killed on June 7. The message was received by his mother in Martinez
the same day she received a "Mother's Day" note from her boy, which
said, "Don't worry about me. I have not been anywhere near the great
drive yet. I have not fired a shot out of my rifle since I have been in
France."
Martinez pays $34,004.53 for a water system from the Port Costa
Water Company, including the system, pumping plant, site, excepting the
main pipe-line to Port Costa and Crockett. The deeds were delivered to
the trustees, and the plant will be turned over on July 25.
Reclamation projects in the great San Joaquin island delta region have
been set afoot since January 1, amounting to $3,000,000. Foremost of
these have been the Delta Farms Company, and the Lee Phillips and
subsidiary interests.
July 27, 1918. — The Martinez Canning Company's plant, on the
Martinez water-front between the C. T. and Grangers' wharves, is ready
for business with the first season's run. The building and equipment cost
about $300,000.
The first Crockett man to make the supreme sacrifice on the battle-
fields of France was Corporal Ora Alfred Sweet, Company D, 26th
Infantry. He was killed in action on the French front on July 21.
On August 20, the old Briones home, on the corner of Estudillo and
Thompson Streets, was destroyed by fire. It was one of the oldest
existing landmarks in Martinez, having been erected sixty years ago by
Casmido Briones.
At the age of eighty-six years, Mrs. Ingraham, of Vine Hill, is proud
of the work she has done for the Red Cross.
September 14, 1918. — On Thursday the Liberty Union High School
at Brentwood was totally destroyed by fire, starting from chemicals in the
school laboratory. The building and annex were well insured, but the
loss of books to the pupils will be heavy. School opened two weeks ago.
November 9, 1918. — Corporal Peter Byer, Jr., of Tassajara, and
Simon Anderson, of San Ramon, made the supreme sacrifice on the field
of battle in France. They were among the first Contra Costa boys to
enter service.
November 30, 1918.-2,000,000 tins is the 1918 pack of the Martinez
Cannery.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 341
January 11, 1919. — The gelatin plant at the Hercules Powder Works
blew up on January 7, killing four men.
On January 6, the news flashed over the country of the death of
Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt.
The Martinez-Benicia Ferry & Transportation Company bought from
Mrs. Helen Muir Funk nine acres and the old wharf of the Grangers'
property at the foot of Berrellessa Street for $10,000.
February 22, 1919. — United States Congress appropriates $64,500
for widening and deepening of Suisun Bay and the San Joaquin River
channel from Antioch to Martinez. This was obtained through Con-
gressman C. F. Curry.
During 1918 the Martinez-Benicia Ferry transported 83,280 auto-
mobiles, 296,574 passengers, 965 teams and 3115 motorcycles. The
directors reelected are: J. J. McNamara, J. W. McClellan, of Martinez;
W. H. George, of Cowell; and A. J. Pementa, J. R. Chisholm, R. H.
Mann, and Gus Gnauck of Benicia.
On Sunday, March 9, the reorganized Martinez Band of twenty-six
pieces gave a very enjoyable concert at the City Hall Park.
May 3, 1919. — At the recent reorganization of the Gazette Publishing
Company, the following officers were elected: W. A. Rugg, president and
general manager; B. E. Stotts, vice-president and assistant general man-
ager; J. K. Cushing, secretary and general news editor.
May 24, 1919. — John Weaver, an aged recluse living near Clayton,
was found murdered on Friday morning. He lived alone in a small cabin.
Robbery is believed to have been the motive, for he was in the habit of
keeping money and valuables in his cabin. He was over sixty, and a pioneer
of this section.
July 12, 1919. — Practically the entire central portion of Brentwood
was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning, when a blaze started in the
store of O. H. Jansee. The loss was estimated at $15,000.
July 19, 1919.— The bond issue for $125,000 for the high schoql
building was carried at Wednesday's election.
July 26, 1919. — A phenomenal vote was cast throughout the county
in favor of the $2,600,000 good-roads bond issue. The vote showed
3852 for and 169 against — 22 to 1.
Andrew Carnegie died at his home in Lenox, Mass., August 11, 1919.
Three hundred people were present at the opening of the Concord
Farm Center Club-house on August 16.
August 30, 1919. — Life imprisonment was given Peter D'Amico,
who was found guilty of the killing of Frank Bradon in a Pittsburg saloon
several months ago.
In one of the most blood-curdling wholesale murders that has ever
been committed in Contra Costa County, three Hindoos were chopped
to pieces in their cabins on Jersey Island early Tuesday morning, Bran
Singh, Bhetan Singh and Iber Singh. The report of the murder was made
by Lachman Singh, who was occupying the same cabin with one of the
342 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
murdered men. According to his story, he was in the hut with Bran Singh
at Camp 8 on the property of the Jersey Island Company, on the op-
posite side of the island from the headquarters of the company. He
said he heard someone trying to force entrance to their cabin, and fled
through the back window to another Hindoo camp. He summoned his
friends and together they went back to the cabin and found Bran Singh
dead. They went at once to Camp 13, where other friends were,
and found the other two men in the same shape. Lachman Singh reached
headquarters about daybreak, and officers were summoned.
September 27, 1919.— The Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway will
hereafter be known as the San Francisco-Oakland Railroad.
The Contra Costa County Exposition, which continued for eight days,
was participated in by many exhibitors from various localities in this
part of the State. The Tommasino Royal Italian Band was hired for
the duration of the big show. The attendance broke all records for
the first day's attendance.
Estimated cost of the proposed concrete highways to be constructed
out of the $2,600,000 bond issue is as follows: t
Bay Point to Pittsburg 8.46 miles $261,800
Martinez to Bay Point _ 5.50 " 156,000
Martinez to Dublin. 23.00 " 687,816
Pacheco to Concord 1.50 " 66,600
San Pablo Creek 12.00 " .. 390,664
Franklin Canon 9.00 " 296,748
Crockett Straits 1.50 " 50,000
Richmond to Giant 5.00 " - 140,000
Knightsen _ 3.25 ■" 51,000
Brentwood East 3.70 " 92,372
72.91 " $2,223,000
Proposed Secondary Roads
Ygnacio Valley. 5.50 miles $55,000
Concord to Clayton 5.50 " . 55,000
Clayton East 12.50 " 125,000
Tassajara Road 10.00 " 100,000
Old River " 27,000
33.50 " $362,000
Summary
Maintenance Equipment $ 15,000
Concrete Highways 2,223,000
Secondary Roads 362,000
$2,600,000
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 343
The Associated Oil Company starts preliminary work at Avon to
double the size of its plant at the cost of $2,000,000. The company has
gone to considerable expense the last few years in providing recreation
for the employees with a fresh-water swimming pool, bowling alleys,
billiard and ball-rooms.
The contract has been let for the Brentwood High School to Hannah
Brothers, of San Francisco, for $63,795.
The closing of the first annual Contra Costa County Exposition.
October 13, marked the sixtieth anniversary of the closing of the first
County Fair ever held in Contra Costa County.
The success of the Exposition is largely due to the various Farm
Bureaus of Contra Costa County; 10,000 attended the big show Sunday.
October 18, 1919. — John Tait, of San Francisco cafe fame, and his
associates purchased Byron Hot Springs Hotel Thursday, October 16.
It is said that $100,000 will be spent in refitting the hotel. C. J. Brun
has been installed as manager.
December 20, 1919. — Active work has been started by the Founda-
tion Company, one of the largest concerns of its kind operating in this
country, upon the construction of mechanical shops for the Standard Oil
Company which will cost $1,000,000.
On Wednesday, December 24, Charles Butters purchased the site of
the old Peyton Chemical Company, including 127 acres of land, for
$65,000.
John Barleycorn passed away peacefully on January 23, 1920, at 10
o'clock. His death struggles were not overly hard, but in Martinez there
are many mourners.
On January 26, in a Byron bank robbery, $50,000 in currency, liberty
bonds, jewelry and securities were stolen from 154 safe-deposit boxes.
The robbers burned a hole through the Bessemer steel plates around the
combination to the safe-deposit vault.
January 24, 1920. — The Oakland, Antioch & Eastern Railway was
sold at public auction today on the courthouse steps by Sale Commissioner
A. E. Dunkel. The purchasers of the road were the members of the
reorganization committee composed of the directors of the Oakland,
Antioch & Eastern Railway. The price was $1,200,000.
January 31, 1920. — Improvements on a large scale will be made by
the San Francisco-Sacramento Railroad Company, according to General
Manager H. A. Mitchell. $90,000 for ballasting rock will be spent;
and other improvements are a branch line from Clyde to the shipyard of
the Pacific Coast Ship Building Company at Bay Point, reconstruction of
the tunnel between Shepherd Canyon and Redwood Canyon, erection of
additional substations, and new electrical motor equipment for installa-
tion on passenger cars.
At Brentwood, January 31, the board of directors of the Bank of
Brentwood elected R. Wallace Jr., president; F. Ludinghouse, vice-presi-
dent; Alex Burness, treasurer; R. G. Dean and R. F. MacLeod, directors.
344 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
The Building and Loan Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of
Martinez, consisting of D. L. Hilson, chairman, L. Bonzagni and Ralph
Wight, enlarged the committee to include E. A. Majors, R. H. Latimer,
J. H. Wells, M. W. Joost, J. R. Baker, A. N. Sullenger, M. H. Hurley,
G. O. Meese, Dr. E. W. Merrithew, T. B. Swift, Frank Roberts, Joe
Sparacino, J. W. McClellan, E. R. Lasell, J. J. McNamara, G. P. Keller,
F. L. Glass, E. R. Colvin and J. E. Colton. The committee as a whole
met and selected Hilson, Wells, Bonzagni, Colvin and Wight to prepare
by-laws for a Martinez Building & Loan Association.
F. Rolandi, contractor, who was awarded the job of constructing the
Martinez-Dublin highway, has started work; and O'Brien Brothers, who
have the contract for the Franklin-Canyon road, are placing equipment
on the ground.
March 8, 1920. — Antioch's new city hall was formally accepted by
the trustees.
The Brentwood Post of the American Legion was organized on March
20; W. F. Wooley, president; R. J. Wallace, secretary-treasurer; Charles
Forbes, first vice-president; Fay Donaldson, second vice-president.
April 3, 1920. — A complete confession of the triple murder on Jersey
Island last September has been made by Maher Singh, who was arrested
in San Francisco. Sheriff Veale took Singh into custody as he was about
to board the liner Korea Maru for Calcutta, India.
March 27, 1920. — Thursday was a red-letter day in the history of the
Columbia Steel Company, when the great rolls, together with the majority
of the units of the new rolling mill, were put in action for the trial run.
April 24, 1920. — J. E. Colton, for the past four years mayor of Mar-
tinez, was reelected to that office.
May 1, 1920. — Crockett Encampment No. 43, I. O. O. F., was insti-
tuted April 8, with fifty-three charter members.
May 1, 1920. — The Antioch Bank buys the controlling interest in the
Bank of Brentwood, when the entire stock held by the Balfour-Guthrie
Company, C. and R. F. MacLeod, and Alex Burness was purchased.
MacLeod and Burness have been succeeded on the board of directors by
R. E. Davis and Mr. Mahaffey.
May 8, 1920. — The theatre constructed by Enea Brothers in Pitts-
burg was opened to the public on May 4, when a large crowd of local
people attended the dedication ceremonies. The new building cost
$100,000.
June 18, 1920. — L. A. Crowell, a banker of North Dakota, and P.
Henitz of Minneapolis, Minn., took over the controlling interest of the
First National Bank at Bay Point. L. A. O'Brien, vice-president, retains
his interest and will become field auditor for Crowell. The new direc-.
torate will be C. B. Johnson, L. A. Crowell, L. A. O'Brien, A. E. O'Brien,
and C. E. Howes.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 345
Richmond gets big S2, 000, 000 plant of the National Products Com-
pany, which has bought an entire block on the inner harbor for plant
and warehouse purposes.
July 12, 1920. — J. A. McVittie, for eight years city auditor of Rich-
mond, was appointed city manager at a salary of $4000 per year.
September 25, 1920. — The new $60,000 high school at Brentwood
was opened with a large attendance. The district from which students
are drawn are Byron, Byron Springs, Excelsior, Deer Valley, Brentwood,
Knightsen, Oakley and Lone Tree.
September 27, 1920.- — Maher Singh was sentenced to death by Judge
McKenzie, for the killing of the three Hindus on Jersey Island. December
17 was set for the day of the execution at San Quentin. The last murderer
to be sentenced to death and executed in Contra Costa County was Mar-
shal Martin, January 23, 1874, by Sheriff M. B. Ivory. Martin was
convicted of murdering Valentine Eischler of Brentwood on November 16,
1872. At that time executions were not conducted at the penitentiaries;
the hanging was held in Martinez in the presence of the sheriff, district
attorney, a local preacher, and a few residents.
October 2, 1920. — The bond election in Richmond for progressive
harbor policies was carried by an overwhelming majority. For com-
pleting the harbor at a cost of $400,000, the vote stood 2872 for and
459 against; for the construction of warehouses at a cost of $150,000,
the vote was 2781 for and 459 against. The adoption of the second propo-
sition makes available at once the sum of $328,000 appropriated by
Congress to assist in the development of Richmond Harbor. The city
has already spent $100,000 on a municipal wharf.
October 9, 1920. — Robert Clark, wharfinger and agent for the
Martinez-Benicia Ferry Company, and his family, narrowly escaped
death from drowning Thursday morning when the warehouse and a
portion of the Benicia municipal wharf collapsed from the effects of
teredos undermining the piles.
October 30, 1920. — The county superintendent of schools, W. H.
Hanlon, appointed Rachael K. Miller as county nurse, who will have
charge of health conditions in all schools of the county. She will be paid
by the county and by the Red Cross organizations, furnishing her own
transportation about the county.
November 1, 1920.— W. K. Cole, of Concord, has sold his stock in
the Concord Bank to B. G. Ensign, of Berkeley, and Albert Smith, of
Rodeo.
February 19, 1921. — There are 100 stockholders in the Martinez
& Benicia Ferry & Transportation Company.
The board of trustees of Benicia have granted the Ferry Company a.
forty-year franchise for East Fifth.
The affairs of the Ferry Company have been satisfactorily arranged,
w i tn J- J- McNamara, president; Grant R. Allen, general manager.
346 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
March 5, 1921. — The board of trustees of the local Martinez High
School opened bids for the construction of a new building, for which bonds
had been voted in the amount of $175,000.
Through reorganization of the sugar firm of Crockett, the California
& Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company will hereafter be known as the
California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Corporation. The directors of
the new corporation met in San Francisco and purchased the physical
properties and assumed all liabilities. The capitalization is $20,000,000;
$5,000,000 is 8 per cent preferred stock, the balance common stock. The
stockholders will provide $10,000,000 for readjustment.
On March 24, ground was broken for the new $175,000 high school
building on Smith Street. Munson Brothers, of San Francisco, have been
awarded the contract.
The ferry steamer Avon J. Hanford, of the Rodeo-Vallejo Ferry
Company, entered service March 29, and made her first trip in eleven
minutes. She is 186 feet long and can carry sixty-five automobiles. A
half-hour service will be maintained.
May 3, 1921. — The Bank of Martinez increased its capital stock
from $100,000 to $125,000, and also increased its surplus to $281,500.
June 16, 1921. — Antioch dedicated her $100,000 grammar school
building with appropriate ceremonies Thursday evening. Addresses were
made by Superintendent W. H. Hanlon and R. J. White.
July 9, 1921. — Dedication ceremonies for the opening of the new
I. O. O. F. building in Martinez were held on July 6 with the joint instal-
lation of Odd Fellows and Rebekahs.
An increase of $2,405,070 in the assessed valuation of Richmond
property is shown by the City Assessor, J. O. Ford. The assessment this
year is $26,722,370.
The Episcopal Church work was organized April 2, 1862, by Mrs.
Martha Coffin and Miss Caroline Fish in Martinez, with six women and
five men. The first recorded services of the Episcopal Church were held in
Benicia by Major Townsend, U. S. A., September 24, 1854. On Sunday,
July 10, 1870, Grace Church of Martinez was consecrated by Bishop
Kipp. The fifty-first anniversary of the founding of the church will be
held on July 10, 1921.
August 10, 1921. — A fund of $25,000 to erect a memorial building on
a site near the city hall, purchased last year by the city for $30,000, was
appropriated by the Richmond city council. The memorial will be erected
in honor of Richmond's service men.
On August 21 the Franklin Canyon Highway was opened for travel.
Miss Margaret Tinning christened the road with a twenty-year-old bottle
of champagne. Many people from the surrounding towns were present.
August 27, 1921. — In 1912 the assessed valuation of Antioch was
$538,000; it is now, 1921, $1,199,325.
A $100,000 exploitation campaign for Richmond through the East
and Middle West, covering a year and including motion pictures, lectures,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 347
newspaper articles and display advertisements setting forth the industrial
and home building opportunities of the city, is to be carried on. The re-
sult will mean great industrial and commercial growth for Richmond.
Engineers and road-builders from every section of the country gath-
ered at Pittsburg on November 9 for the formal opening of the experi-
mental highway constructed here by the Columbia Steel Company to de-
termine the most durable type. The highway is built a quarter of a mile
in length in circular form, with sixteen different types of construction. The
tests have been in progress for several weeks with delicate instruments, in
tunnels and under the road, where the effects of atmospheric changes on
concrete have been recorded. Today thirty-six Government trucks, each
weighing 14,500 pounds, were put in operation on the road. These ma-
chines will be operated over the road until the slabs of concrete have
been destroyed. When the test is finished that section of the highway which
best withstood the tests will be selected as the most durable. There were
about 500 present.
December 17, 1921. — The fleet of trucks engaged in wrecking the
test highway at Pittsburg have traveled 57,908 miles and have subjected
the circular track to 1,896,560 tons, according to the report made by the
Good Roads Bureau of the California State Automobile Association. The
total weight passing over each section- from December 4 to the 10th was
636,300 tons, the trucks traveling 17,538 miles. There has been no sec-
tion to give way thus far, but all show signs of cracking. On December
14, the weight of the trucks was increased from eleven tons to thirteen
and a half tons, and the weight is to be increased until thirty-ton loads are
carried over the road, and the speed increased to twenty miles. The en-
gineers say these tests will result in a lasting benefit.
January 16, 1922. — Classes will begin in the new $185,000 high school
building just completed. The bonds were voted two years ago by the
citizens. The building is designed in Romanesque style of architecture,
walls of reinforced concrete, with red tile roof. The auditorium will
seat 850; the main building is 250 feet long and two stories high.
January 28, 1922. — After three months, the wheels of heavy traffic
will cease rolling over the concrete slabs at Pittsburg. The testing will
continue in the spring. The ditches around the road will be kept flooded
and be drained in the spring when tests are resumed.
Former records for snowfall were broken here Sunday, January 29,
when snow fell the entire day. In some places in the county it was ten
inches deep. Old trees on the highway were broken by the weight of the
snow. The fall was general throughout the county and in the bay cities.
In Berkeley it was a foot deep in places, and in Martinez about eight
inches on the average.
On March 21, ground was broken for the $12,000 Women's Club
building at Las Juntas and Melius Streets in Martinez.
348 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
May 6, 1922. — Concord voted 117 for and 1 against the issue of
$70,000 bonds for the construction of a new grammar school building.
On May 14, 1922, Martinez was accorded the honor of having broad-
casted the first complete Sunday religious service from a radio station on
the Pacific Coast. The services were conducted by Rev. N. F. Sanderson,
who delivered his sermon from the Rock Ridge Station in Oakland. In
the Congregational Church a magnavox had been installed, and the en-
tire services were enjoyed.
June 3, 1922. — By a vote of 166 for and 15 against at Brentwood, and
1 1 for and 2 against at Deer Valley, the bond issue was carried to build
a $40,000 grammar school at Brentwood.
June 24, 1922.— The Shell Oil Company has purchased, for $4500,
one and one-half acres of land from James Dent, adjoining their present
holdings.
July 8, 1922. — The board of supervisors purchased the Fernandez
Estate on Court and Ward Streets in Martinez for $12,500, as a site
for the prospective Hall of Records.
July 22, 1922. — Construction was started by Cahill Brothers on the
first $125,000 unit of the half-million-dollar warehouse and processing
plant for the California Bean Growers' Association. It will be 80 by 326
feet, part of it five stories high. It is located on a four-acre tract purchased
by the Association between Antioch road and the bay, west of the Red-
wood Lumber Yard. The association has a private wharf with 104 feet
frontage.
Work has begun on the enlargement of the Pioneer Rubber Company's
Mills of Pittsburg, it being a part of the $500,000 development program
authorized by the directors.
Pittsburg will have the first Junior High School in the county with the
completion of the $12,000 building, which will be ready for occupancy
September 1. The equipment will cost $7000.
On July 29, 1922, two thousand acres of range land was swept by
flames on the eastern side of Ygnacio Valley and the south side of Mount
Diablo. There was serious damage to cattle ranges.
August 5, 1922. — On August 3, at a meeting of the directors of the
First National Bank and the San Ramon Valley Bank in Walnut Creek,
the two banks were merged and the stock liquidated. Officers and direct-
ors: E. B. Ensign, president; Arthur Burton, vice-president; W. S. Burpee,
C. R. Leech, N. S. Boone and F. A. Marshall, directors.
August 19, 1922. — The almond crop of Contra Costa County for
1922 is valued at $2,500,000 and has been signed to the California Al-
mond Growers' Exchange by 110 growers. Contra Costa County is
third in the State in almond production.
The First National Bank of Richmond has merged with the Mer-
cantile Trust Company of San Francisco. The banking-house of the old
Bank of Richmond at Macdonald and Eighth will be closed, but the
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 349
parent bank at Point Richmond will be maintained. C. S. Downing and
W. K. Cole have sold their interests.
Fifteen hundred Klansmen from all parts of Northern California
were initiated into the K. K. K. on Saturday night in West Pittsburg, in
the marsh lands between Mount Diablo and the Carquinez Straits.
W. K. Cole committed suicide in San Francisco on September 14, 1922,
when sixty years of age. He had been in ill health for some time and had
spells of despondency. He was a prominent druggist of Martinez at one
time, but sold out his dr-ug business and engaged in banking; he was a di-
rector of the Bank of Martinez.
December 9, 1922. — E. A. Majors, president of the First National
Bank of Martinez, announces that the controlling interest in the bank
has been sold to the American Bank of Oakland. There will be no change
in the directorate or in the personnel of officers. The bank will be con-
ducted as a National bank; later it may be changed into a State bank.
December 23, 1922. — Crockett and Valona vote $240,000 bonds for
the purchase of several acres of land and the erection of a grammar
school building.
March 3, 1923. — The Bay Point business district was damaged to the
extent of $35,000 when several stores and other buildings were destroyed
by fire.
March 10, 1923. — A large section of the business district of Byron was
destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at $200,000. The buildings des-
troyed were the Byron Times, postoffice, Santos Hotel, L. V. Plumley's
merchandise store, Ellis Howard's butcher-shop, barber-shop and shoe-
shop in the S. M. Cabral building.
April 28, 1923. — The Pioneer Rubber Company of Pittsburg has
doubled its capitalization, raising it from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.
One of the heaviest and finest fruit crops in Alhambra Valley and
Pleasant Hill in years, is reported this year. The pear crop alone is val-
ued at $187,000; and the total valuation of the crop, for all fruits, is
nearly $500,000.
July 14, 1923. — "One of the best auto-camp parks in the country," is
the verdict of the motor-tourist campers that enjoy the privileges of the
Martinez Auto Park, operated by the Chamber of Commerce.
The people of Martinez have spent about $600,000 for new streets
in four years.
Richmond expended a total of $132,461.38 during the past fiscal
year, ending June 30, for the paving of streets.
July 20, 1923. — Ground was broken in Pittsburg by the C. A. Hooper
Company for the first twenty of 250 bungalow-homes to be constructed by
that firm.
July 24, 1923.— The Pacific Cellouis Mills at Walnut Creek, makers
of artificial silk, received a car of machinery from Germany this week. It
will be installed at once, and they expect to begin operations September 1.
350 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
August 2, 1923. — Without interruption in business, the American
National Bank ceased to exist today and became the American Bank,
under a California charter.
September, 1923. — The grape crop in Alhambra, Ygnacio, San Ra-
mon and other valleys in this part of the county, will be worth $250,000.
September 15, 1923. — Thomas Carneal, who owns many acres of land
in the Tassajara district, conceived the idea of providing an up-to-date
school building for the pupils of the community. He set aside an ample
tract of land for playgrounds, then had a fine concrete building erected,
and equipped the building throughout with the latest in fixtures and fur-
niture, and also an automatic player-piano. The whole investment amount-
ed to $13,000, which he donated to the district. The Highland district
is in a rather isolated section, and Mr. Carneal thought the school children
would like to know what was going on in the outside world; so he added
a modern radio-receiving set to the equipment.
On September 17, 1923, a terrible fire in Berkeley burned over thirty
square miles. A number of Contra Costa County families reside in Berk-
eley. Local students attending the University of California were victims
of the fire, which destroyed sixty blocks.
October 7, 1923. — The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the
Bank of Martinez was observed fittingly today by the bank's officers. On
October 7, 1873, the Bank of Martinez opened for business with a capital
stock of $50,000; L. I. Fish, president; W. M. Hale, secretary and cash-
ier; H. M. Hale, teller and accountant; L. I. Fish, William W. Cameron,
Simon Blum, Henry M. Hale, and W. M. Hale, directors. The town
then had a population between 500 and 600. On May 26, 1875, the
capital stock was increased to $100,000. L. I. Fish was succeeded by L.
C. Wittenmyer in 1890. James Rankin succeeded to the presidency in
1899, and in 1902 W. S. Tinning. W. M. Hale was cashier from 1873
to 1883; H. M. Hale, from 1883 to 1899; W. A. Hale, from 1899 to
date. The original building burned in 1904; an annex was added in 1915.
October 13, 1923. — The Bank of Concord held a meeting and Albert
Smith was elected vice-president, succeeding B. G. Ensign, resigned, he
having purchased Ensign's stock. J. H. DeMartini, also a new stock-
holder, was elected cashier.
Over 2000 attended the institution of the Pittsburg Lodge of Elks oh
October 20. The lodge was instituted by District Deputy Exalted Ruler
George Rucker, of San Jose. After the ceremonies of institution the of-
ficers took their chairs and initiated seventy-one members.
Over 700 autos have registered at the auto camp since the opening
on June 1. Figuring four passengers to a car, this makes 2800 people
who spent from one night to a week here. Of this number twenty have
bought homes in Martinez or have made permanent homes in the county.
November 24, 1923.^The consolidation of the Contra Costa County
Bank with the Mercantile Trust Company of California has been ap-
proved. By this act the bank will become a unit of an institution with re-
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 351
sources in excess of $130,000,000, with offices in thirteen San Francisco
Bay cities. Officers and directors of the Bank are: W. E. Creed, president;
W. J. Buchanan, vice-president; A. S. Sbarbaro, vice-president; G. Todaro,
cashier; Armand Stow and N. Canevaro, assistants; C. J. Wood, Otis Lov-
erage, W. E. Creed, A. S. Sbarbaro, W. J. Buchanan, G. Todaro and N.
Canevaro, directors. The resources of the bank are over $1,300,000.
December 11, 1923. — Pittsburg business property was sold by James
Fitzgerald for $22,000, according to the deed filed in the office of the
county recorder. The property included a building in the business section.
December 15, 1923.- — The furnaces of the Mountain Copper Company
at Bay Point are closed down, throwing 125 men out of employment.
January 5, 1924. — Richmond has a population of between 22,000 and
25,000. East Bay Water Company has 4800 services. The manager of
the company estimates that the total number of connections in the town
is 5300. The phone company has 2975 connections. The Western States
Gas & Electric Company has 6353 consumers. The average daily attend-
ance in school is 3924.
Bulding permits in Pittsburg for 1923 totaled $190,723; seventy-five
per cent of this amount was for homes. This is exclusive of Creed Tract
No. 2, where buildings represent $150,000.
The Pinole Times is twenty-nine years old. It was established by
E. M. Downer and Dr. M. L. Fernandez and was the third paper in the
county. Downer & Fernandez published it till the latter withdrew. John
Birmingham took his place, continuing until 1916, when Ed. Ebsen bought
the paper.
The Union Ice Company starts work on their $30,000 ice plant at the
corner of Escobar and Pine Streets.
Property loss by fire in San Ramon Valley: Total alarms, 56; loss,
$53,500; inside limits, $11,525; outside limits, $41,975.
January 19, 1924. — Rural free mail delivery began at Brentwood,
extending to Marsh Creek, Deer Valley and Antioch Road, 25.6 miles.
The service includes 115 homes. Will Coates is the temporary carrier.
W. A. Hale, was made president of the Bank of Martinez, to succeed
Mr. Tinning, deceased; F. R. Jones, cashier; A. B. Tinning, director.
February 2, 1924.- — The Pacific Gas & Electric buys thirty acres of
the Amos Graves ranch at Antioch, where they will establish a substation.
February 9, 1924. — Mrs. Flora Irene Hurley was appointed by the
board of supervisors to fill out the balance of her husband's term as county
recorder.
On June 18, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Congre-
gational Church in Martinez will be observed by a three days' program.
March 22, 1924. — The plague of the hoof and mouth disease in sev-
eral parts of Contra Costa County is discovered, and immediate steps
taken to quarantine the places where discovered. Some of the most valu-
able herds in the county are in San Ramon Valley, and extra precautions
are being taken to protect the stock.
352 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
March 22, 1924. — Every herd in Pinole Valley is to be killed in the
hoof and mouth disease war. There are twenty-seven exposed herds near
Richmond; 266 cattle were killed and put under the ground today. It
was then decided by Government experts that every animal in and around
Richmond and Pinole has been exposed.
Protective quarantine was placed on ranches from Danville to the
county line.
A charter for the National Bank of Martinez has been granted by
the comptroller of currency, and steps are under way to establish the new
bank by April 15. It will have a capital stock of $60,000, and has
100 per cent local capitalization. The plans include the erection of a
building on the Joost property, at Main and Mill, and until the building
is completed the bank will be housed in the rear of the library building.
The officers are: R. B. Borland, president; Primo Ferrarini, vice-presi-
dent; A. J. Heald, secretary and cashier.
The Contra Costa Golf Club was organized on Wednesday, April 2.
A. B. Tinning was elected president; George Nees of Crockett, vice-
president; C. A. Withington of Martinez, secretary; W. A. Hale, treas-
urer. The board of directors: Dr. E. Todd, Concord; R. V. Davis,
Antioch; H. Lamond, Pittsburg; W. H. Hanlon, Martinez; Mrs. H. T.
Silver, Walnut Creek. M. W. Joost was chosen chairman of the member-
ship committee. A site near Pacheco was decided upon, 311 acres for
$21,770. The membership fee is $100. A nine-hole sand-green course
can be constructed for $3000.
April 12, 1924. — The largest cofferdam in the world has been sunk
in the Carquinez Straits for the construction of the Carquinez bridge by
the American Toll Bridge Company.
Mount Diablo High School takes many first prizes in the Fifteenth
Annual Track Meet of the Contra Costa High School League, with a
score close to 100 points over Alhambra High of Martinez.
April 19, 1924. — Oscar Olsson was appointed to succeed J. P. Casey,
deceased, on the board of supervisors.
Up to date, $400,000 has been the loss in Contra Costa County in the
slaughter of cattle in the hoof and mouth plague.
The State of California, on May 17, completed the payment of
$180,000 to Contra Costa County cattlemen as compensation for herds
destroyed in connection with the hoof and mouth disease. A like amount
is yet to be paid by the United States Government.
May 24, 1924. — Under the first apportionment of taxes collected from
the sale of gasoline, Contra Costa County received $29,402. The total
apportionment was $5,533,943.03. Los Angeles County drew $1,094,-
625.11, and little Alpine County $83.84.
The Richmond-San Rafael ferry boat City of San Rafael was launched
at the Robertson Shipyards, Alameda, Saturday night. The City of San
Rafael is the largest and fastest of the company's three ships; it has a
750-horsepower engine and a capacity of seventy automobiles. The ship
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 353
was christened by Miss Athalie Clark of Richmond. The launching was
attended by many citizens of Richmond and San Rafael. The new slips,
wharves and terminals at Castro Point are nearing completion. The
boat and improvements represent almost a million-dollar investment.
May 31, 1924. — The Pioneer Rubber Company of Pittsburg had a
$20,000 fire on May 25.
Pier No. 1, on the Solano side of Carquinez Straits, is practically com-
pleted for the big bridge across the Straits. It is on dry land and is of
reinforced concrete. On the Crockett side the cofferdam, 150 feet long
and 52 feet wide, is being driven deeper and deeper into the earth. The
outer part of the dam is built like a ship and is water-tight. It will be
driven 55 feet into the earth, after which 225 concrete piers will be driven
inside. Each pier, reinforced, weighs fifteen tons. There will be four
similar dams, forty feet square. There will be two spans, each of 1100
feet, the central tower pier 150 feet wide, anchor span each side 500 feet
long, and 135 feet clearance for ships. The bridge will be completed
early in 1927, when the six-minute ferry owned by the same company will
be abandoned. For twenty-five years the bridge will be a toll-bridge,
which will provide dividends on the capital stock.
The Contra Costa County Golf Club is now certain to become a
reality. A large gathering of enthusiastic golfers met in Department 2,
Tuesday evening, at which representatives from every part of the county
were present. The limit of membership at $100 is 200.
August 16, 1924. — Contra Costa stock losses from hoof and mouth
disease amount to $426,844.57.
September 8, 1924. — Contracts totaling $1,200,000, and calling for
completion of the Antioch-Sherman Island bridge within twelve
months, were let to the American Toll Bridge Company; $850,000 for
concrete work and foundations went to Duncanson-Harrelson Company,
of San Francisco; and $350,000 for steel, to the Golden West Iron Works,
of San Francisco.
September 20,1924. — California Wharf & Warehouse at Port Costa
burned early this morning. The loss in grain is estimated at $450,000;
and in buildings, $400,000. The concern is owned by the Balfour-Guthrie
Company, who had just renewed their franchise for the wharf for twenty-
five years.
November 1, 1924. — Martinez was advanced to city delivery of mail
on November 1, 1924. On March 1, 1924, it was allowed three carriers
and given the status of a village delivery. There are still three carriers.
January 8, 1925. — Cost of government in Contra Costa County has
increased 81.28 per cent the last two years, but the duties of the various
officers have been doubled in the same time, according to the report of
J. O. Ford, grand jury expert, on file today with the inquisitorial body.
According to Ford's report the offices of the district attorney, county
clerk and probation officer have seen the greatest increase of duties. In-
354 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
crease in crime has been the cause of the bulk of the additional work
demanded of the district attorney and the probation officer, according to
the expert's report. A considerable portion of the increase in government
cost is represented in the funds expended in enforcement of the prohi-
bition law, the expert declares.
January 8, 1925. — Two huge conveyor belts, weighing seven and one-
half tons each, considered the largest on the Pacific Coast, were delivered
to the C. & H. Sugar Refinery at Crockett, the past week. The belts,
manufactured at the Pioneer Rubber Works near Antioch, are each 950
feet long, three feet wide, and one inch in thickness, made of seven-ply
duck with a heavy coating of rubber on either side. It took three weeks
to manufacture the conveyors, at a cost of $10,000. A single flat car
was used in their transportation to the Crockett refinery.
January 8, 1925. — The Delphian Club of Martinez, starting with
thirty-one members, was brought into being last night at a meeting of the
Martinez Woman's Club of virtually the entire membership.
January 13, 1925. — The regular and annual meeting of the East
Contra Costa Chamber of Commerce was held in the banquet room of
Hotel Brentwood, January 13, more than fifty members being present,
among whom were a number of ladies. The dinner served by Landlord
Crawford was greatly enjoyed.
President Roy Davis called the meeting to order and the minutes of
the previous meeting were approved as read by Secretary George Upham.
Roy Davis was reelected president and Paul Anderson, treasurer. At
this time three directors from each of five towns were elected as follows:
Antioch, M. B. Veale, Thomas Milan, A. Flaherty; Oakley, Jim S. Cran-
dell, O. M. Champlain, Bill O'Hara; Knightsen, D. D. Watson, Ed.
Sellers, W. A. Fotheringham; Brentwood, Jerry O'Meara, C. B. Weeks,
George Shafer; Byron, L. Z. Richardson, Harry Hammond, H. C. Han-
num; and in addition, from Lone Tree, O. C. Prewett; from Live Oak,
E. J. Vieria; and from Knightsen, G. Somerhalder.
January 17, 1925. — Growth of Richmond from a few scattered shacks
on an expanse of wheat fields and marshland in 1900 to a thriving indus-
trial city of approximately 30,000 inhabitants in 1925, was reviewed in
a pioneer day program given yesterday by the Richmond Rotary Club.
Dr. C. L. Abbott and Walter T. Helms made fifteen-minute addresses
concerning the early history of Richmond. Dr. Abbott told of coming to
the old town of San Pablo in 1900, when Richmond was just starting,
of the struggles to get Richmond incorporated, and how a committee
composed of Frank Hull, J. Q. Black, Frank Crichett and himself finally
arranged a plan that won out, resulting in the election of E. J. Garrard
as the first mayor of the little city. Walter Helms narrated how he came
here while studying law, to take over the schools of the San Pablo school
district, which included what is now San Pablo, Richmond and El Cerrito.
Among the pioneers of Richmond who were present as guests of the
Rotarians were Ben Boorman, Harry Ells, A. C. Lang, Lee D. Windrem,
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 355
C. A. Odell, Robert Fernald, Rebus Lipe, Edward Hoffman, V. A.
Fenner, O. L. Wright, Chris Theis and Dr. P. C. Campbell.
January 31, 1925. — Of the scores of chamber of commerce secretaries
in the thickly populated bay region, only half a dozen are women, and
two of these reside in Contra Costa County. They are Miss Catherine
Beam, secretary of the Martinez chamber, and Mrs. Jessie Higley of the
Danville chamber. In the Association of Bay Chamber of Commerce
Secretaries both women are known as "live wires," always looking out
for the interests of their communities.
January 31, 1925. — The Rodeo-Vallejo Ferry Company, holder of the
franchise to construct the Carquinez Straits bridge, has sold two lots and
a tract of 2.71 acres at the bridgehead at Crockett to the American Toll
Bridge Company for $40,500, according to a deed filed yesterday with
the county recorder. The Toll Bridge Company was organized for the
purpose of constructing the bridge.
Almond blossoms in January is the record of Martinez this year. A
tree resembling a huge popcorn ball burst into bloom last week on the
ranch of L. Brackman.
February 7, 1925. — During the year 1924, $14,264,000 was spent in
Contra Costa County for major building.
Walnut Creek's new Memorial Hall will be dedicated Sunday after-
noon, February 8, when Supervisor C. H. Hayden will make the memorial
address. A large program has been planned by the American Legion Post
at Walnut Creek. All ex-service men and the general public are invited
to attend the ceremonies, which will be held in the main auditorium.
The contract for the construction of the Brentwood Memorial Hall
was awarded to George H. Field Company of Antioch by the board of
supervisors, on their bid of $16,860. This contract covers the construc-
tion of the last of the seven memorial halls to be built by the county.
The Brentwood building is being erected under the direction of the Roy
Frerichs Post of the American Legion.
Antioch's celery-shipping season, through Santa Fe docks, is about
ended, with a total of 1550 cars. Last year 1628 cars were shipped,
but in dollars and cents this year's crop will bring greater returns.
A forty-eight-room three-story annex is to be added to Hotel Oehm
in Martinez, the new addition to cost between $50,000 and $75,000.
It will be built on the 50 by 100-foot lot adjoining the hotel on Alhambra
Avenue.
Diablo Air Mail Terminal will be formally opened this afternoon.
Mayor Klein of Concord has declared a holiday for business houses and
schools of that city. C. A. Richardson, manager of the western division
of the transcontinental air mail service, will be present.
February 14, 1925. — A Board of Commerce is being organized in
Pinole, with forty business firms signed up. A meeting will be held in
the near future to elect officers and directors and secure quarters.
356 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
"Contra Costa County is notable among the counties of the State in
its memorials to World War veterans. When the doughboys started
over seas they were promised that when they returned they could have
'anything they wanted'. Making good this promise, the board of super-
visors has built a veterans' memorial hall in each town in the county where
there is an American Legion Post. These are now being finished and
dedicated. Walnut Creek dedicated its hall last Sunday. Danville hopes
to open its building on Washington's Birthday.
"The buildings were paid for by a small direct tax, all of which has
already been raised. On the threshold of each one is a brass plate read-
ing 'Dedicated to those who served'. While the halls are nominally in
the custody of the American Legion, they are open to all veterans' organ-
izations. The Legion men have gone further and offered their use free
to any and all patriotic, civic and welfare associations, such as the Boy
Scouts, Red Cross, farm bureau, chamber of commerce and improvement
clubs. They will be, in a manner, community halls. The h"i 1 ^ ; - , ~ : n
Danville is to house the public library and the chamber of commerce. In
Martinez there is to be a public swimming pool. The struck '-"" """ de-
signed to serve as substantial memorials to the men of Contra Costa county
who served their country at the time of its need, and mark the towns con-
taining them as having a full quota of patriotic citizens." — Editorial in
San Francisco Chronicle.
February 14, 1925. — The growth of El Cerrito is evidenced by the
fact that building permits representing a total of $37,000 were issued
last month.
The ferry boats of the Martinez-Benicia Ferry & Transportation
Company are undergoing their annual repair and overhaul, which will
be completed within two weeks.
The first consignment, seven crates of asparagus, shipped this year,
left Antioch last Friday, February 13, for the California Corporation
markets in New York. This is thirteen days in advance of the first ship-
ment made in 1924.
Congratulations were showered upon Mr. and Mrs. John B. Green,
of Richmond, last Sunday, in honor of the sixtieth anniversary of their
marriage, which was solemnized in England, February 8, 1865.
February 21, 1925. — According to the survey filed with the harbor en-
gineers, Contra Costa's population has increased in the last five. years from
53,900 to 62,800.
Armand Stow of Pittsburg, formerly of Walnut Creek, has been
promoted to be manager of the Pittsburg branch of the Mercantile Trust
Company.
February 28, 1925. — With asparagus bringing $1 a pound in New
York and a carload a day being shipped East by express from Antioch and
the Delta country, prospects for a good season among the "grass" growers
are looming up. This spring delicacy is selling for 25 cents to 35 cents a
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 357
pound in San Francisco, at the present time. It is expected that larger ship-
ments will be forwarded within the next few days, as the crop is rapidly
maturing.
The name of Governor Alvarado, father of Superior Judge Henry V.
Alvarado, one of the last Spanish chief magistrates, will be honored
by the naming of Richmond's principal park after him, according to action
of the Richmond council Tuesday evening, February 24. The late Gov-
ernor Alvarado owned a typical Spanish home in the Contra Costa hills
not far from the park.
February 28, 1925. — Directors of East Contra Costa Chamber of
Commerce of the five towns in Diablo Valley met in regular session
Tuesday evening and voted an appropriation of $200 to sign the roads
in Diablo Valley along all of the main highways. This appropriation
will probably be extended to cover all cross-roads in the district later.
May 16, 1925. — Mrs. Julia Michaels, of Richmond, on Wednesday
filed a petition in the Superior Court here for letters of admission in the
estate of her husband, Max Michaels, who died a few days ago at his late
residence in Richmond.
May 16, 1925. — At a recent meeting of the electors of the John
Swett Union High School at Crockett, it was decided to call an election
to vote on a $400,000 bond issue for the purpose of erecting and equip-
ping a new building to supplant the one now in use. Plans for the build-
ing, which, according to County Superintendent of Schools William H.
Hanlon, will be one of the finest and most up-to-date in the State, are
now being drawn by a San Francisco architect; and it is expected that the
election will be called as soon as the plans are complete.
Crockett now has one of the best-equipped elementary schools in the
State and, with the proposed new high school, will take a leading place as
an educational center.
May 23, 1925. — The 11,700-ton Norwegian freighter Talabot, largest
steamer ever to navigate the straits and up-river region, weighed anchor
and started down stream late Wednesday, carrying more than a million
feet of lumber from the yards of the Redwood Manufacturers Company,
where she has been loading since Monday. A stop was made at Point
San Pedro to take on a load of case oil, after which the Talabot will pro-
ceed up coast to Noyo, Mendocino County, to complete her lumber cargo,
and then will sail for Australia with a cargo equivalent to 5,600,000 feet.
Despite the size of the craft, which is 428 feet long with a 56-foot
beam, Captain Larson and crew of forty-two men navigated the narrow
up-river channel without difficulty and made a landing at the Redwood
Company's docks under the Talabot's own power. A landing was made
at 7 o'clock Saturday evening, and Sunday the big ship was open to visitors,
hundreds of interested sight-seers going aboard during the day. The
Talabot is said to be the largest boat ever to visit the Pittsburg waterfront,
and the ease with which a landing was effected augurs well for the future
of Pittsburg's deep-water harbor.
358 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
May 30, 1925.— O. H. Klatt, of the American Toll Bridge Company,
was in Martinez Friday for the purpose of filing with the office of the
county recorder the plans, specifications, and contract for construction
of the unfinished portion of the foundation of the Carquinez bridge,
together with the completion bond supplied by the National Surety Com-
pany. The contract is between the American Toll Bridge Company and
the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company andi is signed by Avon J.
Hanford as president of the Toll Bridge Company and T. S. Tullock,
president of the Missouri Valley Bridge and Iron Company.
The contract price for the completion of the foundation of the bridge
is $1,419,700, and the bond to secure the completion of the work within
sixteen months from last February 1st is for the same amount. Approxi-
mately $1,000,000 has already been spent for the foundation work done
by Duncanson and Harrelson, San Francisco contractors.
May 30, 1925. — Harvesting of barley began in the Byron section
early this week, a number of crews being in the field. Threshing began
Wednesday on the Winegar ranch, where there are 250 acres of Golden
Oregon Mariout. The yield will run from twenty-five to thirty-five sacks
to the acre. Here there is also 100 acres of early Baart wheat that prom-
ises twenty sacks to the acre. Stanley Cabral began threshing operations
this week in the Bethany country. The Cabrals have considerable fine
barley and wheat in the Vasco territory, southwest of Byron, where the
promise is for a good yield. There is considerable barley in the Byron-
Tracy-Delta sections, and the yield in almost every instance will be the
highest in recent years.
June 13, 1925. — In honor of three birthday anniversaries, Frank
Higuera of Pinole entertained at a barbecue picnic held at the V. Martinez
ranch near Walnut Creek, Sunday. The guests whose birthday anni-
versaries it was were : Frank Higuera, Virgie Bronestadt and V. Martinez.
June 27, 1925. — Asparagus is still being harvested at some of the
tracts in the delta, but the end of the season is near. Asparagus ranks
second in California for canned vegetables. Ninety per cent of the
canned asparagus of the United States is grown in the delta districts of
the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. The San Joaquin delta is rapidly
becoming a large asparagus producer. Some of the large acreages in
the delta are located on the Bishop tract, Webb Island, Bouldin Island,
and Terminus tract.
June 27, 1925. — A handsome $10,500 clubhouse for Carquinez Golf
Club members is under construction at the club's grounds at Giant. The
building, according to present estimations, will be thrown open to members
October 1.
The building with furnishings will represent an outlay of $15,500.
The furnishings committee estimates the luxurious furnishings for the
club will cost $5000.
The Carquinez Golf Club has shown steady growth and progressive-
ness since its organization last year.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 359
The directors of the Carquinez Golf Club are : Dr. U. S. Abbott,
president; Grant Miner, Jr., vice-president; Ira R. Vaughn, treasurer;
Arthur A. Alstrom, secretary; Frank Gordon, T. H. DeLap, A. P. Hill
and R. H. Stratton.
July 4, 1925. — The Martinez Home Builders' Association, organized
here by local business men and capitalists several years ago to promote
the erection of homes for contract sale in this city, formally and officially
passed out of existence Monday when Judge McKenzie ordered the dis-
solution of the corporation.
The association has disposed of all of the dwellings which it had
built on property lying south and west of Susanna and Pine Streets, as
well as all of the unimproved property, and as the promoters did not
intend to continue operations, dissolution of the corporation was ordered.
July 4, 1925. — With the filing of certificate of extension of corporate
existence for an additional fifty years, it was revealed Tuesday that the
California Transportation Company, operating between San Francisco
and Stockton, has been in existence for half a century. It was fifty years
ago June 19th last that the company began operations on the bay and
rivers, and it has continued uninterrupted freight and passenger service
ever since.
July 4, 1925. — Mrs. Alice G. Whitbeck, head of the Contra Costa
County public library system for the past twelve years, was on Monday
reappointed by the board of supervisors for her fourth term of four years.
During Mrs. Whitbeck's administration, the county library system has
developed from humble beginnings to a high degree of efficiency, and it
ranks today as one of the leading county libraries of the State. Much of
this success may be directly attributed to Mrs. Whitbeck's untiring efforts
and ability to administer the affairs of the county library.
July 4, 1925. — Justice, Glass' monthly report filed Thursday shows a
total collection in fines and fees last month of $4691. Of this total vio-
lators of the Wright Act contributed $4450, motor vehicle rule breakers
$75, the fees from civil matters $6 and miscellaneous fines $185.
Byron, July 8, 1925. — The 100-foot bridge over Big Slough on Vic-
toria Island, on the Borden road to Stockton, went out early Wednesday
morning, presumably breaking under a heavy truck, many of which have
been using this highway. Engineer Quail of Stockton was immediately
notified and it is expected the bridge will be replaced within forty-eight
hours. In the meantime travel over the Borden road is held up.
July 11, 1925. — Banner Refining Company, one of the large oil oper-
ating syndicates in California, on Monday closed the deal for the purchase
of the lands of the old refinery which has been operated at various times
for years past at Rodeo. The sale was made by the Union Petroleum
Corporation, and the revenue stamps indicate a $35,000 deal involving
a little over thirteen acres of waterfront lands.
The last operators of the plant were the Sinclair interests, operating
under a lease on the lands and plant.
360 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
July 11, 1925. — Fire, which raged a week ago Tuesday evening near
Muir Station and was thought at first to be merely one of many grass
fires, has proven to have been a blaze causing considerable destruction
and heavy loss on the Phillips ranch, where a large quantity of fruit,
packed and ready for shipment, was destroyed and where a part of the
orchards was fire-swept, about 250 fine almond trees being damaged by
the flames.
The fire spread from the Santa Fe Railway's right of way, where a
crew of men was burning dry grass and weeds, to the adjoining lands of
the Phillips ranch. H. Wilson, operating the ranch, claims a loss of over
$800 in ripe fruit entirely exclusive of trees, all of which were fine,
healthy trees and bearing well.
Adjusters for the Santa Fe are expected here Thursday to make an
adjustment with Wilson to cover the loss sustained.
July 11, 1925. — Bent Bros., Los Angeles contractors, started work
Monday on the grading and construction of two of the largest oil res-
ervoirs in the world at the plant of the Shell Company in Martinez. The
reservoirs, which will hold over a million barrels of oil each, both larger
than the heretofore largest storage tank at Avon, are to be rushed to
completion to increase the oil storage facilities at the Martinez refinery.
July 11, 1925. — With an increase in assessed valuation of city prop-
erty, improvements and industries of more than $600,000, Martinez has
the proud distinction fof this year of showing the greatest percentage of
valuation increase of any corporated city or town in Contra Costa County.
Martinez' assessment for 1925 reaches the grand total of $3,426,910,
which incidentally puts this city in second place among Contra Costa mu-
nicipalities, being topped only by Richmond.
July 18, 1925. — Contract for the erection of the new manual training
building as a part of the plant of the Alhambra Union High School was
awarded by the trustees Wednesday morning to F. H. Cress. The new
building and alterations to the gymnasium building, a part of which has
been used for the manual training shop, will cost in the neighborhood of
$15,500.
The new manual training building will be approximately 60 by 96
feet and will be completely equipped for manual training and mechanical
drawing classes. The gymnasium building, from which the former depart-
ment will be removed, will be altered to provide for a change of location
of the boys' showers and the enlarging of the gymnasium proper for the
better accommodation of athletic activities.
July 18, 1925. — Federal hunters in the predatory animal control divi-
sion have killed 167 coyotes, 72 wildcats and three other animals in Contra
Costa, according to a detailed report of six months' operations ending
June 30, submitted to the board of supervisors by Charles G. Poole,
leader of the hunting division.
The county, State and federal governments are dividing the cost of
hunting down predatory animals. Poole's report shows that the federal
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 361
government has paid $260, the State government $1135, and Contra
Costa County $1036 for maintaining a corps of hunters over the six
months' period.
July 18, 1925. — The oldest double-ender side-wheel ferry boat on San
Francisco Bay, the veteran El Capitan, which carried passengers from
Oakland pier to San Francisco in the early eighties and which for years
was on the Vallejo Junction-South Vallejo run, will spend her last days
in the movies.
Like humans, the ferry boat had to wait until it was ready for the
"boneyard" to achieve world-wide renown and to get into the public eye.
The old ferry that was always ready to operate, and which for a quarter
of a century, despite its advanced age, relieved the newer and more modern
ferries when they went out of commission, was sold last week to Thomas
Crowley for $750, far below the actual "junk" value, and will in the
future be used in motion picture production, in the filming of marine scenes.
July 18, 1925. — A fire of unknown origin partly destroyed the plant
of the Stauffer Chemical Company at Stege on Monday, damage of which
is estimated at between $20,000 and $30,000.
Both the Richmond and El Cerrito fire departments were summoned
to help extinguish the blaze, which was confined to the "tower" where con-
siderable nitric and sulphuric acid was stored.
Officials of the company estimated that sixty days would be required
to repair the damage. In the meantime the men employed in this part of
the establishment will be out of work.
July 25, 1925. — With the business of the local post office increasing
nearly $1000 during the first six months' period of the current year, over
that of last year, the outlook for a record year is bright.
The total amount of business transacted the first six months of 1925
in the post office was $11,656.87, as against $10,704.24 for the same
period in 1924, and this in a year that is not inflated with election mail
and voters' ballots, as was last year.
July 25, 1925. — That the pear crop of the Alhambra Valley orchards
this year is the heaviest and of the best grade of all pear-producing sec-
tions of the State is the unqualified statement made this week by Frank T.
Swett, general manger of the Pear Growers' Association and the man in
the best position of all to know the status of crop conditions locally and
throughout the State.
July 25, 1925. — With the aid of Antioch Red Cross, War Mothers,
Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts and Harding Post, American Legion, Mem-
orial Hall, recently erected at an approximate cost of $20,000, has been
completely furnished.
August 8, 1925. — Contra Costa chickens are in demand in Chile. A
second order has just been received by cable by James Dryden from the
Chilean experimental station for a shipment of high-egg-record White
Leghorns. The first order was shipped to Chile in January, which was
received in good condition after a five weeks' voyage.
362 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
August 8, 1925. — One of the largest second mortgages and deeds of
trust ever recorded in Contra Costa County went on record Friday after-
noon when the American Toll Bridge Company gave a two-million-dollar
second mortgage on its Carquinez and San Joaquin bridges to the American
Bank of San Francisco.
This is to secure an additional loan in the above amount, to the
$4,750,000 negotiated with the Bank of California as trustee, to complete
the two bridge structures. The papers were filed here by the Contra Costa
Abstract & Title Company.
August 8, 1925. — Checks amounting to $2,239,106 including one for
Contra Costa County for $233,764.72, have been mailed by the State De-
partment of Agriculture to farmers who lost livestock in the campaign,
about a year ago, to check the foot and mouth disease. The money needed
for indemnification purposes was appropriated by the last legislature.
Los Angeles County losses, totaling $897,443.23, were the heaviest;
Merced was second, with a total of $508,319.56, and Contra Costa third
with a near quarter-million loss.
The disbursement of the fund by counties was as follows :
Alameda $99,618.43; Contra Costa $233,764.72, Fresno $19,657.25,
Kern $4,058.48, Los Angeles $897,443.23, Madera $148,285.60, Mari-
posa $43,957.64; Merced $508,319.56; Orange $28,972.56, San Bernar-
dino $8,125.18, San Francisco $141.71, San Joaquin $9,157.15, San
Mateo $51.25, Stanislaus $3,319.21, Tulare $16,1 10.35, Tuolumne $190,-
329.19.
August 15, 1925. — School funds allocated to this county from the
State amount to $348,236.00, according to notification which has been re-
ceived in the office of Superintendent of Schools William H. Hanlon from
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Will C. Wood.
Division of these funds, with the attendance, is as follows:
Nine thousand forty-one average attendance, elementary schools —
$269,105.50.
Two thousand two hundred twenty-three, average attendance, high
schools— $79,130.50.
Various other methods of apportioning funds are also used. Each
high school district receives $550 for each year it is maintained. Spec-
ial day and evening classes receive from the State $7,240, and the part
time classes of the county $2,600, for their maintenance.
August 15, 1925. — Tremendous recent increase in the demand for
higher education in Crockett has far outstripped the capacity of the John
Swett High School in that community, with the result that the school
trustees and prominent citizens of Crockett are planning a campaign for
the voting of $450,000 in bonds for the building of a new high school.
The proposed new John Swett High School will be a vocational insti-
tution equipped with workshop, automobile repairing department, and a
department for household economics, in addition to the usual subjects em-
braced in a high school course.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 363
Crockett only recently voted $300,000 in bonds for the erection of
a new grammar school.
August 22, 1925. — Crops in the San Joaquin delta this year will aggre-
gate in value about $2,000,000 more than in 1924, according to latest
estimates. The 1925 yield is estimated at $20,000,000, with last year's
$18,000,000. The leading delta crops this year are potatoes, onions,
beans, corn, barley, asparagus and sugar beets. Practically all the sugar
beets grown in the lower river district are consumed at the sugar manu-
facturing plant at Tracy.
September 5, 1925. — One of the two ancient oaks that have stood
for a century or more — at least they were massive trees when the first
settlers came to the San Ramon Valley — on the Flournoy ranch, collapsed
two weeks ago and in falling was shattered to bits. When the white man
first came to the San Ramon Valley the companion oaks stood as majestic
sentinels overlooking the beautiful sweep of valley and hill, but the ravages
of time and the passing of the years so deadened and weakened the oaks
that during the recent heat wave in the valley one of the trees collapsed,
leaving the other "standing guard" until such time as it too must succumb.
September 5, 1925. — Regarded as an assurance of development of the
Burgess Tract lands from Concord to the United States mail base and
Clayton Valley sections, Lee Harris, Concord rancher, brought in a 118-
foot well, proving the possibilities of the district for irrigation projects.
Well borers struck gravel strata at ninety-five feet. The short distance
of good water surprised farmers of the entire section.
September 5, 1925. — With a sugar content of twenty per cent, the
vineyard of Harold Bloomfield near Knightsen will yield forty tons,
according to estimates just made. Bloomfield has sixteen acres in the
Tokay vineyard, of which ten are three-year-old vines and six acres, two
years old.
September 26, 1925. — The Associated Chambers of Commerce of
Contra Costa County have published a booklet which extols the agricul-
tural wealth and industrial activity of the county. Each section of the
county is adequately described, and the articles are profusely illustrated.
The booklet has been issued primarily to interest prospective settlers in
Contra Costa County. The booklet is prefaced with the following:
"Whether in agriculture or in industry, human effort seeks its maxi-
mum activity. Contra Costa County, bordering on the great Bay of San
Francisco, and with seventy miles of its own water front, offers a wide
range of selection to those who desire to live and work amid pleasing sur-
roundings and under conditions that are well-nigh ideal. Practically all
fruits, grains and garden crops of the temperate zone are profitably raised
in Contra Costa County; live stock is an important industry, and the total
value of manufactured products runs over $425,000,000 a year.
"It is the combination of industry and agriculture, with unusually
attractive living conditions, that has made so great an opportunity not
only for financial advancement, but also for comfort and contentment."
364 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Contra Costa County leads all counties in the United States in per
capita wealth. There is an average of $5418 for every person in Contra
Costa County, as opposed to the next highest county, with a per capita
wealth of $3300.
Walnut Creek, September 29, 1925. — -Again has Walnut Creek's prize
walnut tree contributed the limit of one-tree production. It produced
this year 282 pounds of nuts, the production last year being the record
up to that time, 274 pounds. Nuts from this tree won sweepstakes and
seven first prizes at the State fair.
Port Costa, September 30, 1925. — The steamer Alchiba is docked
at the Port Costa warehouses, taking on 8000 tons of barley for European
points. This is one of the largest single grain cargoes to be shipped
this year.
October 3, 1925. — Smith Brothers, Incorporated, of Dallas, Texas,
will build the three-mile Lafayette Tunnel of the East Bay Municipal
Utility District, running from a point near the town of Lafayette to the
San Pablo Creek in the hills back of Berkeley. They were awarded the
contract for $1,101,822. E. H. Reeder, chief engineer for Smith Broth-
ers, will have general engineering supervision on the Lafayette Tunnel.
The Smith Brothers Company is one of the large contracting firms of the
country. Their largest California jobs have been for the State of Cali-
fornia on the Sutter By-Pass Levee.
The time limit of the Lafayette Tunnel is eighteen months. The con-
tractors will work from both ends and from headings from one or more
shafts simultaneously. They will employ from 600 to 1000 men and
will drive the job through on three eight-hour shifts.
October 10, 1925. — Construction of the mammoth million-barrel oil
storage reservoir at the Shell refinery in Martinez has progressed to a point
where the largest and most needed of the reservoirs being constructed
will be ready for use within a fortnight. Bent Brothers are building
two reservoirs at the Shell, one of a million barrels capacity and the other
half that amount. The same contracting firm is building the first of twelve
proposed two-million-barrel storage reservoirs for the Standard Oil be-
tween Pittsburg and Antioch.
October 7, 1925. — The harvesting of over eighty tons of cucumber
seed in Diablo Valley started Tuesday. Three hundred and fifty acres
of cucumbers have been planted in Diablo Valley, being grown exclusively
for seed. These are grown as an intercrop in the young orchards and,
with 350 acres planted producing better than 500 pounds of seed per acre,
will bring in a revenue of crop close to fifty thousand dollars.
This is the first year cucumber seed has been grown in Diablo Valley,
and it is expected several times this acreage will be planted in 1926. The
principal growers are: George Allan, R. C. Christiansen, and the Kirk-
man Nurseries.
In harvesting the seed the cucumbers are picked from the vines and
thrown in windrows, after which a separating machine drawn by horses
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 365
pulps the cucumber and separates the seed, which is afterwards washed
and dried. Many of the cucumbers grown are weighing in excess of five
pounds each.
October 17, 1925. — With the granting of a contract by the Richmond
City Council to the Tibbetts Pacific Company for $64,770 for the con-
struction of an open wharf on the inner harbor, a program of harbor im-
provement adopted in 1920 was finally put into effect. The contract calls
for the construction of an open wharf with creosoted piling on property
owned by the City of Richmond on the inner harbor channel. This chan-
nel, dredged as a part of the United States government program of de-
velopment of Richmond harbor, was recently improved by the City of
Richmond, which dredged a turning basin at the site of the wharf. Bonds
for the present wharf construction were voted by the city at an election
in 1920.
October 17, 1925. — Firmly convinced that the business interests and
citizens are a unit in supporting their compliance with the fire depart-
ment's request for additional fire fighting equipment of the most advanced
type, the city trustees at a special meeting Monday night unanimously
voted the purchase of a $12,500 American-La France fire engine, a 750-
gallon pumper fully equipped.
October 23, 1925. — The steel lift span of the Antioch-Sherman Island
Bridge has been completely installed and with a few minor adjustments
will be ready for service within a fortnight. O. H. Klatt, general manager
of the American Toll Bridge Co., in Martinez Wednesday afternoon en
route to the bridge site, stated that the company expects to have the
bridge completed and handling traffic early in December.
October 23, 1925. — The dreaded puncture vine, so deadly to auto-
mobile tires and destructive to farm land, which some years ago ravaged
one of California's counties and which has been found in three places in the
eastern part of this county, was detected this week getting a start beside
the Southern Pacific tracks at Pittsburg. Farm Advisor A. M. Burton
was immediately notified and a determined war on the pest with the aid
of kerosene is being waged.
October 17, 1925.« — P. D. Busch, superintendent of the Concord air-
mail base, returned from an extensive tour of inspection, covering the en-
tire western division of the federal air-mail service.
"No two air stations are operated the same," declared Busch, "and
we are endeavoring to unify the entire western section." Mechanical
operations are to be improved here, he said. Additions will be made to the
machine shop at the Concord terminal.
Reports have been received from Japan, stating that messages over
low-wave radio station in Concord were heard the last week. Dante Cor-
dano and T. K. Johnson are in charge of the Concord sending station.
November 7, 1925. — David Macartney, pioneer of Antioch, who
confesses to having weathered seventy-six winters, became a bridegroom
Friday in Martinez when Mrs. Rebecca Davis of Los Angeles became his
366 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
wife. For nearly a half century "Uncle" Dave Macartney has resided in
Antioch, where he conducts a stationery and notion store and where, being
a stanch disciple of Thomas Jefferson, he has served as postmaster for
numerous terms. His friends in eastern Contra Costa are numbered
by hundreds, and from each and every one congratulations and best wishes
will be forthcoming.
November 7, 1925. — Pinole has had some banner natal days, and
discovers claim to distinction in the fact that ten sets of twins have been
born in the town from 1914 to 1924, inclusive, as follows:
To Mrs. Antone Light, March 4, 1914; Mrs Manuel Marcos, July
25, 1914; Mrs. John Chattelton, August 17, 1914; Mrs. William Quili,
April 14, 1915; Mrs. Thomas Atkinson, January 23, 1917; Mrs. C. H.
Drysdale, October 29, 1918; Mrs. Frank Maddox, September 7, 1920;
Mrs. Burton F. Wills, May 19, 1923; Mrs. M. F. Goularte, December
23, 1923; Mrs. John Catrino, November 29, 1924.
November 7, 1925. — Breaking all records for the production of
fruit, growers of central Contra Costa County sent out upward of 6500
tons of pears, grapes, peaches and apricots during the season just closed,
according to a report by L. H. Rodebaugh, traffic manager of the Sacra-
mento Short Line, to the directors of the company. Rodebaugh's report
showed that in all 500 cars of fruit had been shipped over his line. Of
this total 283 cars were pear shipments. There were 197 cars of grapes,
twelve cars of apricots and eight cars of peaches. Most of the shipments
were from Walnut Creek, Concord, Meinert, Alamo and Moraga. Prac-
tically the entire crop went to the east, where Contra Costa fruit is eagerly
sought in the better markets, the report stated, though some of the crop
was disposed of to the local canneries. The shipment shows a decided in-
crease over that of last year.
December 5, 1925. — For over two years Grant D. Miller, coroner of
Alameda County, has been boring hole after hole in hope of striking water
on his ranch near Lafayette, but without results until Monday, when at a
depth of 308 feet, the borers struck a flow which for three days has shot
three feet over the top of the well.
December 5, 1925. — Workmen engaged in clearing the old McNamara
property on Main Street, preparatory to erecting a new building for the
j. C. Penney Company, on Monday uncovered one of the town's oldest
drinking founts, where the town pump may have stood in the olden days.
The old plank sidewalk hid a deep well of clear, cold water. The well is
encased with rock and doubtless gave way to the modern water system. It
will be filled in and abandoned.
December 19, 1925. — Crockett, December 14, 1925. — Free city de-
livery of mail, numbering of houses and naming of streets, a new rail-
road depot and lower fire insurance rates are the major projects which
the Crockett-Valona Business Men's Association has mapped out for con-
summation the coming year.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 367
December 19, 1925. — Rodeo to vote on $80,000 issue of bonds for
new school at the January election. The school conditions in Rodeo are
in a deplorable state, owing to the overcrowded condition of the class
rooms, and it is hoped that the bond issue will carry.
January 2, 1926. — Deed of the Lanteri shipyards at Pittsburg from
Annie Lanteri to H. F. Lauritzen and H. F. Bundesen was filed in the
county recorder's office Thursday, the consideration being $25,000.
January 2, 1926. — Crockett Signal, January 1 — With 119 cabin pas-
sengers and a heavy cargo, the Matson liner Matsonia, Capt. John T.
Diggs, arrived Tuesday morning from Honolulu. She had 112,926 bags
of the 1926 sugar crop for the Crockett refinery.
The Matson freighter Mauna Ala is due to arrive Wednesday with
119,285 bags of raw sugar; the Mahukona with 53,840 bags; and the
Enterprise, with 22,983 bags.
The opening days of 1926 have been the coldest in the memory of old-
timers, who unhesitatingly state that for sixty years they have not exper-
ienced such penetratingly cold weather. For eleven straight days a miser-
able cold tule fog sent its chilling mists o'er land and water, day and
night. A light fall of rain broke this up, only to let the ocean fog hold
sway. And when the ocean fog is not operating, there is an east wind
which brings down piercing cold blasts from the mountains.
January 16, 1926.— John Miller, of Richmond, stated that at the
top of Barry Hill, on the Franklin Canyon Highway, ice formed on the
telephone wires fully an inch in diameter. He stated that north and east
winds were meeting at the top of the hill and the heavy fog was freez-
ing to whatever it touched. Icicles several inches long hung on the trees
and bushes, where the fog had drifted in.
January 16, 1926. — Crockett Signal, January 15 — Weighted down
with ice, which incrusted the poles in some places fully six inches thick,
the transcontinental lines of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Com-
pany, for a distance of two miles across the hills between Crockett and
Luzon station in Rodeo Valley, have been wrecked, the weight of the
ice bearing down so heavily on the wires that the poles have been snapped
off, leaving the ninety individual wires through Contra Costa County a
mass of tangled wreckage. Four extra crews are rushing the work of re-
pairing the lines. It may be days or even weeks before the circuits are
restored and service resumed.
January 23. — Crockett Signal, January 22. — The steamer Monoa, of
the Matson Line, arrived Wednesday from Honolulu. She brought
65,720 bags of raw sugar for the refinery.
Hawaii's 1926 sugar crop is ripening so fast that every vessel of the
Matson Line's fleet, with the exception of the motor ship Annie Johnson,
is being placed into service again.
The big 14,000-ton freighter, Manukai, is en route from Hawaiian
Island ports to San Francisco with 203,492 bags of raw sugar, which
comes to Crockett.
368 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
January 23, 1926.- — Sixty-four industrial plants in Contra Costa
County annually produced manufactured or plant products conservatively
valued at $404,123,620, two and a half times the production valuation of
ten years ago, when the totals were only $161,332,100, figures thought at
that time to be stupendous. These sixty-four plants employ 17,428 men
and women, and each year pay these workers the sum of $26,424,500 in
salaries.
February 13, 1926. — What engineers say will be the highest electric
transmission tower in the world is being erected by the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company as a part of the new 220,000-volt line now being built
from Vaca-Dixon substation to Antioch. The record-breaker, which will
be at the crossing of the Sacramento River, near Rio Vista, will be 459 feet
high, rising thirty feet higher than the new telephone headquarters, San
Francisco's tallest building.
To get its lines across the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and at
the same time comply with the Federal Government's clearance require-
ment for navigable streams, the company must put up five steel towers
ranging in height from 269 to 459 feet, two at the Sacramento crossing
and three at the San Joaquin crossing. The tallest tower of the latter span
will be 359 feet.
Without a splice in the wire, six copper-clad steel cables will stretch
from anchorage to anchorage, 7029 feet, nearly a mile and a third, across
the Sacramento, 8835 feet, more than a mile and two-thirds across
the San Joaquin. Supporting towers will be necessary to maintain the pre-
scribed clearance height, but there is to be a single unbroken span of 4135
feet over the Sacramento River and one of 3175 feet over the San
Joaquin.
The line will end three miles south of Antioch, where the company is
building its Contra Costa substation. With the new line operating at
world's record voltage it will be possible to carry directly a larger block of
power to the industrial district centering around Pittsburg and Antioch.
February 19, 1926. — Did you know that Martinez was at one time,
and for many years, the principal place of business of the Pacific States
Telephone Company? It was; and to the central exchange, built over
twenty years ago at Ferry and Ward Streets, the directors and stock-
holders of the company came once a year to hold their annual meeting. A
special train was chartered annually to bring the party to Martinez, where
Manager P. B. Borland was always waiting to receive the high officials of
the company.
February 19, 1926. — Pittsburg — A smokestack weighing nearly
twelve tons and standing 145 feet high, the largest ever erected in a
single unit on the Pacific Coast, was hoisted into position at the blooming
mill of the Columbia Steel Works on Monday. Crews are rushing work
day and night to complete the mill, which will cost $380,000.
Record-Herald, February 24. — The new Methodist Episcopal Church
at El Cerrito was dedicated Sunday. The handsome new structure at
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY 369
Stockton and Everett Streets was officially opened when morning, after-
noon and evening services were held.
Walnut Creek, March 4, 1926. — Walnut Creek's first playground
commission was appointed Wednesday by the city trustees. The members
are Mrs. Herbert Vaughn Brooke, Mrs. J. McGeehon, S. Quigley, C.
P. Howard and William Miles.
Crockett Signal, March 5, 1926. — The Carquinez Women's Club will
be twelve years old Wednesday, it having been organized March 10, 1914.
It has prospered under its various presidents, but no set of officers has
ever achieved more in the way of beautifying the town than the first of
the organization. May continued success attend the workings of the
Women's Club.
March 5, 1926. — For the first time in the history of the municipality,
Martinez is about to foreclose and sell a piece of property for taxes. It
is Lot 3 in Block 3, Fairview Addition, and is assessed in name of Maria
Berterini. The taxes have not been paid on the property for five years,
and a deed was recorded to the town "for taxes." The amount of the
tax bill is $4.41.
March 5, 1926.- — Concord, March 2 — Airplanes constructed at the
Douglas airplane plant at Santa Monica, assembled here, and later tried in
Chicago, will be used in the air service between San Francisco and Eastern
points. The new planes have a capacity of 1000 pounds, as against 350
pounds of the army ships. Service between Los Angeles and Seattle,
with Concord as a base, is expected to be in operation by April 1.
March 13, 1926. — Pinole, March 8 — The first building of the civic
center planned for Pinole was dedicated Saturday afternoon and evening,
when the fire house and library were accepted by Mayor E. M. Downer.
March 10, 1926. — Crockett Signal — Simultaneously with the floating
of Old Glory from the flagpole at the top of the seven-story refinery this
morning at 10:25, the machinery of the mill was set in motion as the
converting of the first charge of raw sugar into the marketable article was
commenced. Passing river crafts, and train and church bells joined in
making a din. It is three years since the refinery closed. It is estimated
the output of the refinery during the ten months will reach 180,000 tons.
Before this the output ranged between 60,000 and 70,000 tons.
March 13, 1926. — The largest single deal in Martinez business prop-
erty in recent years was negotiated Friday afternoon when a number
of Oakland men headed by C. L. Philliber, George A. Lewis and A. R.
Mitchell acquired title, by purchase, to the entire Fernandez estate hold-
ings in the Court Block, bounded by Main, Las Juntas, Escobar and Court
Streets, for $32,500, and at the same time obtained agreement for the
purchase of the Brown property, southwest corner of Main and Las Juntas
Streets, for $17,500.
March 27, 1926. — Regarding the recent survey of social and indus-
trial conditions in the county, we find that of the 65,000 population, 44,000
reside in the cities. There are estimated to be 16,774 foreign-born whites
370 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
and 43,787 native-born, of whom thirty-one per cent are of foreign par-
entage. Approximately 15,000 people live on farms, 5000 being distrib-
uted on the 2000 individual farms, of which 1561 are owned by the men
who are occupying or farming them. There are estimated to be 28,000
head of cattle, worth $7,815,084, in the county, and in 1924 the poultry
industry represented an investment of $396,517.
March 27, 1926. — Crockett, March 23 — A total of 394,916 bags of
sugar will be received at the California & Hawaiian Sugar Refining Cor-
poration this week. On Sunday the Manukai arrived with 188,405 bags
of raw sugar; Tuesday the Maui arrived with 103,311 bags; and Friday
the Lurline is due with 103,200 bags.
Crockett Signal, April 3, 1926. — The first truss span of the long ap-
proach for the viaduct of the Carquinez bridge was swung into position
yesterday, marking the starting of the actual steel erection on the largest
highway bridge in the West. In eighteen minutes the giant mass of steel
work was swung into place, after being assembled on the ground. The
steel and other materials that are arriving daily are taxing the warehouse
and storage facilities.
April 8, 1926. — Sixty-seven years ago today, on April 8, 1859, the
first telegraph cable was laid across Suisun Bay between Martinez and
Benicia, and California's second capital and Contra Costa's county seat
were joined by wire for the first time. Laying down of the submarine
telegraph cable at that time was a notable feat.
April 9, 1926. — Martinez Standard — The fertility of Contra Costa
soil was shown when it became known that at the wharf of the Martinez-
Benicia Ferry Company, where piling was driven into salt water several
months ago, shoots several inches in length are developing on the piling
made of eucalyptus trees. D. Joselin of Martinez made the discovery.
"Some fertile land, I'll say," Joselin commented. "But what I can't under-
stand is that the piles are all driven root end up, and that's no